Mamdani swore he would have Benjamin Netanyahu arrested, but the prime minister just confirmed his arrival and delivered a stunning new twist

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just confirmed he is absolutely still coming to New York City, throwing down a direct gauntlet to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has repeatedly threatened to have the prime minister arrested, as per New York Post. Netanyahu directly challenged Mamdani’s earlier statements that the Israeli leader should be detained in compliance with an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, or ICC.

This is shaping up to be a serious political showdown, and frankly, it’s going to make for some incredibly tense diplomatic moments when Netanyahu lands. The prime minister confirmed his travel plans during a virtual interview with The New York Times’ Dealbook forum, stating simply, “Yes, I’ll come to New York.” But he didn’t stop there. He delivered a stunning condition for even considering a conversation with the incoming mayor.

When asked if he would seek to speak to Mamdani, the Israeli PM offered a clear ultimatum. He stated, “If he changes his mind and says that we have the right to exist, that’ll be a good opening for a conversation.” That is a brutal, direct challenge. It forces Mamdani to address his core beliefs before any dialogue can happen.

Set to become New York’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, Mamdani is a democratic socialist with a vocal position on the Israel-Palestine conflict

Mamdani has previously stated his belief that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, which is the root of his desire to see Netanyahu detained. Israel has repeatedly and firmly rejected all accusations of genocide and apartheid. The mayor-elect has been equally firm when discussing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He said he is not “comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else.”

The reason Mamdani feels empowered to issue these threats stems from his plan to enforce international law locally. He has publicly stated that he will direct the New York Police Department to act on arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. This directive isn’t just aimed at Netanyahu, either. He has included Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose war crimes have recently come under scrutiny, in the list of individuals he would seek to arrest upon arrival in the city.

An arrest of the prime minister is widely seen as unlikely, and there are major questions about whether a mayor-elect actually has the power to act on an international warrant. The federal government manages immigration and international diplomacy. Crucially, President Trump’s administration has strongly backed Israel. The administration has even placed sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors in the past.

Furthermore, the United States is expected to provide visas for official UN work under its agreement as the host country. While President Trump’s administration denied entry to Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in September, that was a rare move. The biggest legal roadblock is simple: Israel, the United States, and Russia are among the powerful countries that have never actually joined the ICC. This means Mamdani’s plan to use the NYPD to enforce these international orders seems highly unlikely.