New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing sharp backlash after saying he would explore having Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if the leader travels to the United Nations in September, with critics arguing the mayor should be prioritizing pressing problems at home.
Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican known for her combative style, told The Post that Mamdani should be focused on New York City’s homelessness crisis, rising cost of living and street flooding instead of, in her view, wading unlawfully into international affairs and targeting U.S. allies.
Vernikov also dismissed Mamdani’s remarks by saying he is the mayor of New York City, not the head of the United Nations. On Sunday, she sent a sharply worded letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, arguing that Mamdani’s alleged threat to pursue an arrest order should come with consequences.
In the letter, Vernikov accused the mayor of failing to respect the authority of the United States and claimed he was prepared to undermine the country’s constitutional system.
She asked the State Department to issue a firm warning and provide guidance on whether any such move could violate U.S. law, potentially opening the door to federal prosecution or other criminal action against Mamdani.
Brooklyn state Assemblyman Kalman Yeger was equally blunt, calling Mamdani “delusional.”
Mamdani told The New York Times on Saturday that he believes Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague,” a reference to the United Nations’ International Court of Justice, and said discussions are underway about whether the Israeli prime minister could be detained during his expected visit to Manhattan for the United Nations General Assembly this fall.
The criticism was not limited to Republicans, as Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman also joined those condemning the New York City mayor’s comments.
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Fetterman called Mamdani a “clown.”
“It’s such a tough guy to say that kind of thing. He has no way to do that,’’ Fetterman said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
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Former Mayor Eric Adams also dumped on his successor, saying, “This isn’t a college protest.
“Threatening to arrest the democratically elected leader of one of America’s closest allies during U.N. General Assembly week isn’t bold. It’s reckless,’’ Adams said.
Shosh Bedrosian, a former New Yorker and Israel’s most recent rep for the prime minister’s office, told The Post, “Prime Minister Netanyahu … deserves respect as the elected leader of a democratic ally of the United States — not baseless attacks from a New York City mayor.
“Meanwhile, Mamdani remains unfazed by the fact that the Iranian regime, a designated state sponsor of terrorism, continues to operate its UN mission in New York City.’’
