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Netanyahu slams NYC Mayor Adams for 'fomenting hate' over war crimes arrest call

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Eric Adams of "fomenting hate" by calling for his arrest over the Gaza war.
  • Netanyahu plans to attend the UN General Assembly in September, despite Adams' suggestion that he is not welcome and should be arrested if he visits.
  • Netanyahu dismissed the International Criminal Court's war crimes charges against him as "bogus" and expressed concern about declining US support for Israel and rising antisemitism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams, accusing him of "fomenting hate" after Adams suggested Netanyahu should be arrested as a war criminal if he visits the city for the United Nations General Assembly.

He's supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers – Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he's trying to turn one group against the other.

— Benjamin NetanyahuResponding to Mayor Adams' call for his arrest.

Netanyahu, who intends to travel to New York in September for the annual gathering of world leaders, dismissed Adams' remarks. "He's supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers – Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone," Netanyahu stated on Fox News. "But he's trying to turn one group against the other." The prime minister also reiterated his stance on the International Criminal Court's war crimes charges, calling them "bogus" and suggesting they were an attempt to divert attention.

The conflict in Gaza, ignited by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has made Netanyahu an increasingly polarizing figure. He expressed concern that bipartisan support for Israel in the United States is eroding, particularly among progressive Democrats. Netanyahu also warned of rising antisemitism in the US and Western countries, noting that Jews in New York City, home to the world's second-largest Jewish population, "feel very uncomfortable."

The whole thing is wrong.

— Benjamin NetanyahuCommenting on the perceived discomfort of Jews in New York City.

Mayor Adams had previously stated that while New York City lacks the authority to execute an arrest warrant from the ICC, he encouraged the federal government to do so. He declared Netanyahu "not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large." The ICC has accused Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and the late Hamas leader of crimes against humanity. The Gaza health ministry reports over 73,000 Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive, while the initial Hamas attack resulted in about 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians.

I want to be equally clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.

— Eric AdamsMayor Adams' statement regarding Netanyahu's potential visit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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