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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

New York mayor's war criminal comments draw fire for selective outrage

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Sources not specified Context piece
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated his administration is considering having the NYPD arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his UN General Assembly visit.
  • The mayor's potential action has drawn criticism for selectively applying international criminal law, as past leaders accused of severe human rights violations have visited New York without similar threats.
  • Critics question why Mamdani's principle of enforcing international criminal law was not applied to figures like former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi or Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who have also addressed the UN.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has ignited controversy by suggesting his administration is exploring the possibility of ordering the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit for the UN General Assembly. Mamdani's office is reportedly in "active conversation" with the city's law department regarding this unprecedented move.

belongs in the Hague

— Zohran MamdaniMamdani's statement regarding Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by the article.

Mamdani's stance, which implies a commitment to enforcing international criminal law against visiting heads of state, has been met with sharp criticism for its perceived selectivity. Critics point to numerous past instances where leaders accused of significant human rights abuses or war crimes have addressed the UN in New York without facing any legal repercussions.

his administration is in "active conversation" with the city's law department about ordering the NYPD to arrest the prime minister of Israel when he arrives for the UN General Assembly.

— Zohran MamdaniDescribing the mayor's actions and intentions.

For example, the article highlights the 2023 visit of then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was under U.S. sanctions for his alleged role in the 1988 executions of political prisoners. Despite this, no New York politician proposed his arrest. Similarly, the article questions the absence of action against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose forces have been accused of human rights abuses against Kurds, and former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who repeatedly denied the Holocaust.

If his principle is that New York City should enforce international criminal law against visiting heads of state, he owes the public the rest of his list.

— Zvika KleinThe author's critical assessment of Mamdani's stance.

The piece further contrasts Mamdani's current focus with the cases of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, and former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was under ICC warrants for genocide. Neither has faced calls for arrest from New York officials during their UN visits. The article implies that Mamdani's principle, if genuine, should be applied universally rather than targeting specific leaders, particularly when some of those not targeted face more severe accusations than Netanyahu.

I do not remember any New York politician suggesting the NYPD meet him at the airport.

— Zvika KleinReferring to the lack of action against former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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