Israeli envoy calls for NY mayor's arrest over "incitement to violence"

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “sowing chaos” ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

Speaking to Fox News, Danon criticized Mamdani for urging New Yorkers to protest Netanyahu’s arrival and planned address at UN headquarters on September 24, urging the arrest of Mayor for incitement to violence.

“No one can ignore Mayor Mamdani, you know, instead of actually welcoming all world leaders and making sure that the city will function properly, he is doing exactly the opposite,” Danon said.

“He is inciting, he is sowing chaos into the city. So this year, unfortunately, it will be harder for every New Yorker or every visitor because the mayor is actually calling for people to go out, to demonstrate and it will not deter us. The prime minister will come, will speak and will represent our nation,” he added.

Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond when asked whether the mayor planned to meet with Netanyahu during the Israeli leader’s visit.

“I don't think the prime minister wants to meet with him,” Danon said.

Mamdani has previously described Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and “architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” In July, he defended calls for protests, saying, “One of the bedrocks of our city is protest.”

Netanyahu later said he would travel to New York to “speak the truth in front of this hate-spewing elected official who's pitting one group of New Yorkers against the others.”

Danon also said Israel must “finish the job” in Gaza, arguing that Hamas must disarm and cannot remain in power.

“Hamas is still there. They are supposed to disarm, according to the president's plan. I hope it will take place. I hope that it will happen sooner than later because if it will not happen, we will have to do the job ourselves,” he said.

By Vafa Guliyeva