Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu says he has no intention of backing away from his planned trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this September, brushing aside repeated calls by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his arrest and accusing the mayor of spreading hatred against the city’s Jewish community.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” following his White House meeting with President Donald Trump, Netanyahu was asked about Mamdani’s remarks and responded unequivocally that his plans remain unchanged.

“I’m going to New York,” Netanyahu said during an interview with “Hannity” following his White House meeting with President Donald Trump Tuesday.

Netanyahu said he intends to confront Mamdani’s accusations directly, charging that the mayor is fostering division and inciting hostility toward Jews.

“I’m going to speak the truth in front of this hate-spewing elected official who’s pitting one group of New Yorkers against the others. He’s turning them against New York Jews.”

Mamdani has repeatedly condemned Netanyahu over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing him of responsibility for alleged atrocities during the conflicts.

He recently called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” Tens of thousands of Gazans were killed in the war.

Although Mamdani has acknowledged that New York City officials do not have the legal authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu, he has urged federal authorities to take action if the Israeli prime minister visits the United States.

Netanyahu responded by accusing Mamdani of deliberately fueling anti-Jewish sentiment and attempting to turn New Yorkers against the city’s Jewish residents.

“What are we in the 1930s? What is this? So much hate, so many lies,” Netanyahu told host Sean Hannity.

The dispute comes as criticism of Netanyahu has also emerged from other political figures. President Trump has expressed concern over Israel’s continued military strikes in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, saying “too many people are being killed,” while former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has echoed Mamdani’s calls for Netanyahu’s arrest.

Netanyahu also blasted the International Criminal Court, calling it a politically motivated institution that unfairly targets Israel while ignoring terrorist organizations.

“They don’t charge Hezbollah… Supposedly, they charged Hamas , but a guy who’s already dead. So no, it’s fake. It’s one big fake,” he told Fox News.

He warned that if the ICC’s authority goes unchallenged, it could eventually target American leaders and military personnel as well.

“They could say that the president of the United States is a war criminal, that American soldiers – valiantly fighting next to us, shoulder to shoulder, against the tyranny in Tehran – that they’re war criminals.”

Turning to his White House visit, Netanyahu praised his latest meeting with Trump, saying it underscored the close alliance between the United States and Israel.

The prime minister described the meeting as “one of the best meetings” he has ever had with the president.

“I always hate to disappoint our would-be critics who are trying to find cracks in our alliance. And what they find, like today, is a wall of granite,” he said.

Netanyahu added that he and Trump remain fully united in their determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

“We don’t want to see this fanatic regime in Tehran have nuclear weapons to threaten every American and to threaten the peace of the world, and to threaten the existence of Israel,” he continued. “So we have a common goal, and it’s gonna be achieved, either through diplomatic means or other means.”

Fox News noted that Netanyahu will also appear on the next episode of “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” which will be available Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

{Matzav.com}