Mamdani trying to arrest Netanyahu would give both men the exact headline they want

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his September visit to the UN General Assembly in Manhattan is largely symbolic, as legal experts confirm Mamdani lacks the authority to do so. The US government would intervene to prevent any such attempt, despite a November 2024 International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity.

"The struggle for Palestinian liberation was at the core of my politics and continues to be," Mamdani stated in 2023.

Both politicians are aware of the legal limitations, but the threat serves their political agendas. For Mamdani, it energizes his pro-Palestinian base and elevates his profile as a critic of Israel. For Netanyahu, it provides a political boost, allowing him to portray himself as an embattled leader defending Israel against global anti-Israel sentiment, distracting from domestic issues ahead of an election.

"They’re not just after me, they’re after us all. I’m just standing in their way," Netanyahu posted in 2019.

Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro cautioned that an attempted arrest would ironically benefit Netanyahu by rallying support for him in Israel.