Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told Fox News Digital that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is “sowing chaos” ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.N. General Assembly later this month.
Danon made the remark after Mamdani called on New Yorkers in July to protest when Netanyahu arrives to speak at the general debate at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 24.
“No one can ignore Mayor Mamdani, you know, instead of actually welcoming all world leaders and making sure that the city will function properly, he is doing exactly the opposite,” Danon said.
“He is inciting, he is sowing chaos into the city. So this year, unfortunately, it will be harder for every New Yorker or every visitor because the mayor is actually calling for people to go out, to demonstrate and it will not deter us. The prime minister will come, will speak and will represent our nation,” the ambassador added.
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Mamdani’s office, when asked by Fox News Digital if he had any plans to meet with Netanyahu while he is in town, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“I don’t think the prime minister wants to meet with him,” Danon said.
Mamdani previously called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” The Democratic socialist also acknowledged that he can’t have Netanyahu arrested despite promising to do so during his mayoral campaign.
When asked by a reporter in July about “What do you think that these people who are frustrated with Netanyahu should do when he arrives in New York City for the United Nations meeting,” Mamdani said, “One of the bedrocks of our city is protest.”
“It is something that has been a part of what makes our city so special, that New Yorkers can express themselves whether they are in support or in opposition no matter on whatever topic,” the Democratic socialist mayor said during the press conference on July 22. “And I’ve always said that when we respect our Constitution, we also respect our First Amendment. And here in New York City it will always be a place where you can exercise that.”
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Netanyahu told Fox News “Hannity” around a week later that, “I’m going to New York,” and, “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.”
Danon told Fox News Digital that “we have been involved in a war, a difficult one, a long one, and I think now we have a lot of opportunities ahead of us.”
“So the prime minister would also speak about what we achieved, but also about the opportunities,” he said.
Danon also said Israel has to “finish the job” in Gaza.
“Hamas is still there. They are supposed to disarm, according to the president’s plan. I hope it will take place. I hope that it will happen sooner than later because if it will not happen, we will have to do the job ourselves. But we cannot leave a terrorist organization in Gaza. There will be no future for the people of Gaza or for us if Hamas will stay in power,” he continued.
“I think we can be very proud of our achievements. Israel is being criticized, but we walk very proud at the U.N. because we know that what we did, fighting evil, fighting Iran, fighting Hezbollah, fighting Hamas, it wasn’t only our fight. We fought for the Western societies, for the Western democracies,” Danon also said. “That’s why we feel proud on what we achieved this year.”
Fox News Digital’s Nora Moriarty and Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this report.
