Israel says unfazed by rise of NYC’s Mamdani, who threatened to arrest Netanyahu
New York City stunned the world on Tuesday after it thrust to mayorship a left-wing, Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani, also a vocal critic of Israel, who had threatened to have Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he set foot in the city.
Despite Mamdani’s rise, Israel said it was confident the “stronger than ever” partnership between Tel Aviv and Washington would hold, especially as Netanyahu and President Donald Trump maintain an “enormous relationship.”
“Of course, we’ve seen these election results, but it does not, of course, undermine the incredible, enormous relationship the Prime Minister has with President Trump, and the accomplishments that we have been able to get to because of this relationship that they have forged together,” said Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian.
“We have a bond that is stronger than ever between Israel and the United States right now, and of course, it’s based on our shared democratic values and dedication to our security and peace for countries in the entire free world,” Bedrosian added.
Mamdani won more than 50% of the votes to become New York’s first Muslim mayor and first mayor born in Africa, as well as the youngest mayor since 1892.
During his campaign, Mamdani was tough on Israel, asserting that the country was committing genocide in Gaza, where nearly 70,000 have been killed in a dragging battle between Israeli forces and the Palestinian group Hamas.
Mamdani had also labeled Netanyahu a “war criminal.”
For his part, Trump, who had endorsed the No. 2 candidate for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo, said any Jew who voted for Mamdani is a “proven and self-professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
