Zohran Mamdani, Benjamin Netanyahu: Mayor’s need to arrest Israeli prime minister sparks backlash from UJA Federation of NY
MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani is going through backlash after as soon as once more addressing his need to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives in New York Metropolis for the United Nations Basic Meeting in September.
“I can’t be welcoming Benjamin Netanyahu or some other struggle criminals once they come to this metropolis,” Mamdani mentioned.
The mayor, on Wednesday, answered questions from reporters after he introduced in a video message on Tuesday night time that his authorized group decided that he doesn’t have the authority to arrest Netanyahu, solely the federal authorities can.
It is an possibility that President Donald Trump has already declined.
“We’re speaking about somebody who has been charged with crimes in opposition to humanity,” Mamdani mentioned. “Somebody who has visited this metropolis on many events and who has been welcomed by earlier mayors. I wish to make it very clear that that welcome ends with me.”
Mayor Mamdani needed town to uphold a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest issued practically two years in the past by the Worldwide Legal Court docket over the struggle in Gaza. It is a risk Mamdani first introduced throughout his mayoral marketing campaign.
The mayor is now going through backlash from the UJA Federation of New York, the biggest Jewish philanthropy group on the earth.
“We ask that the mayor cease his relentless and singular give attention to the one Jewish state of Israel and we ask that the mayor do his job, and I believe the rationale why individuals elected the mayor was to assist convey this metropolis collectively,” mentioned Hindy Poupko, senior vice chairman of the UJA Federation of New York.
The mayor has condemned the Hamas assaults of October 7, which killed 1,200 Israelis and began the struggle.
Mamdani has additionally known as the Israeli offensive in Gaza an act of genocide that has killed greater than 70,000 Palestinians.
“I’ve met Palestinian New Yorkers who’ve informed me they’ve spent many years on this metropolis, saving cash to ship it again dwelling to construct a house within the village they grew up in solely to see it obliterated straight away with an Israeli air strike,” Mamdani mentioned.
“We all know that demonizing rhetoric in opposition to Israel results in violence in opposition to Jews,” Poupko mentioned. “So, once you Israel for distinctive condemnation, distinctive focus nearly an obsession, that certainly endangers Jews in every single place.”
The UJA Federation of New York says it can proceed to companion with supporters throughout the state and metropolis to convey collectively peace amongst all residents. It is one thing Mayor Mamdani says he’s attempting to do too.
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