Netanyahu to make quick trip to speak at UN after Mamdani urged his arrest, diplomat says

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, notes General Assembly falls in middle of Jewish holidays, election period, but says it’s ‘important’ that the PM attend, if only for 24 hours

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York City’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s UN envoy said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the prime minister a “war criminal” and said he’d seek his arrest, a plan he had to walk back because New York City does not have authority to take Netanyahu into custody.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon added. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the terror group’s deadly invasion of southern Israel on October 7, 2023.