Netanyahu's party puts Mamdani alongside Iran, Hezbollah leaders on billboard

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has escalated its public feud with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani by featuring his image on a campaign billboard in Tel Aviv. The billboard, placed alongside those of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, carries the message, "They want Netanyahu to lose … Don’t let them win." The poster includes the logo of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party.

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They want Netanyahu to lose … Don’t let them win.

Netanyahu shared the billboard on social media, accompanied by a video highlighting Mamdani's criticisms of the Israeli prime minister. This move marks a significant escalation in the increasingly acrimonious public dispute between the two leaders. Mamdani has been a prominent critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, having previously labeled Netanyahu a "war criminal" who "belonged in The Hague." He also urged U.S. authorities to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu should he travel to New York for the UN General Assembly in September.

In response to Mamdani's criticisms, Netanyahu accused the New York mayor of "fomenting hate" and inciting religious divisions within New York. The Israeli prime minister has also contended that progressive Democrats aligned with Mamdani are jeopardizing the traditionally bipartisan U.S. political support for Israel. However, recent polling suggests Mamdani holds greater popularity among American Jews than Netanyahu.

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war criminal

The billboard's appearance coincides with Netanyahu's campaign for another term amid a challenging political landscape in Israel. The Knesset was dissolved in July, leading to elections scheduled for October, the first national election since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Netanyahu's coalition is reportedly trailing in some opinion polls. The prime minister has increasingly used Mamdani's criticisms as a central theme in his campaign messaging, with Likud campaign materials previously featuring Mamdani's comments about Netanyahu.

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belonged in The Hague

This exchange occurs while U.S.-Israeli efforts to broker a ceasefire deal in Gaza remain stalled. Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy, met with Netanyahu on Monday, but the talks did not yield a breakthrough. Israel maintains its forces will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas disarms. Netanyahu's recent criticism of Mamdani follows his controversial characterization of Britain as "the Islamic republic of Britain" in an interview with Israel's army radio.

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fomenting hate