Herzog tells Mamdani Palestinian peace requires tolerating Israel
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed strong opposition to New york City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israel, warning that such rhetoric undermines peace efforts in the middle East. Herzog voiced concerns during an interview with Fox News Digital, condemning Mamdani’s call for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his labeling of Netanyahu as a war criminal, fearing that such statements promote hatred against Jews, especially in NYC, which has the largest Jewish population in the U.S. Herzog emphasized Israel’s right to security and the importance of mutual acceptance for peace. Mamdani, who denies antisemitism, has faced controversy over his past statements and social media posts that appeared to support hamas terrorists, and Herzog accused him of spreading hate and risking public safety. The Israeli president also highlighted ongoing negotiations to improve Gaza’s situation, stressing that Hamas must no longer control Gaza or use it as a terror base. Herzog criticized the International Criminal Court’s warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest, suggesting it was politically motivated to distract from allegations against the ICC’s chief prosecutor. Herzog reaffirmed israel’s pursuit of peace, security, and mutual understanding with its neighbors.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s outspoken opposition to the Jewish state, arguing that such positioning is antithetical to creating peace in the Middle East.
Herzog voiced concerns during an interview with Fox News Digital published Saturday, after Mamdani called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest and condemned him as a war criminal and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.” Herzog raised fears that the mayor’s rhetoric stokes hate against Jews, including in New York City, which holds the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States.
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“This cannot be accepted in New York, which is a city which is dear to our heart, dear to the Israelis, and dear to me personally,” Herzog said.
Mamdani has long denied claims that he is antisemitic. However, his rhetoric on Jews and Israel has stoked controversy, including during his mayoral campaign last year when he declined to condemn the antisemitic phrases “globalize the intifada” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” arguing he interpreted them as “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights.” In March, debate again erupted when his wife came under scrutiny for social media posts she liked celebrating Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, including a post that claimed its rape of Jewish women was a “mass hoax.”
Herzog on Saturday accused Mamdani of spreading “blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric,” saying that the mayor is “risking his own citizens; he’s risking their safety, well-being and life.” He told the outlet that Mamdani does “not respect” Israel’s right for self-determination, suggesting that such positioning puts long-term Palestinian peace in Gaza, which Hamas has controlled, and Jewish rights in jeopardy.
“We’re a nation seeking peace, we’re a nation seeking innovation, we are a nation bringing ideas which will save humanity, and we are [a] nation trying to do good,” Herzog said. “And I hope and pray that we will have peace with our neighbors in the entire region, with our Palestinian neighbors as well. But that requires that Israel will be accepted and people will understand that we have security needs.”
“The people of Gaza deserve a better life. And there is a real viable plan, including budget and efforts, how to change the course of the future,” he added, referencing the ongoing negotiations for Hamas and Israel to withdraw from Gaza. But one thing has to be made clear: “Hamas cannot control Gaza and cannot turn it into a launching pad for terror and hate anymore.”
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Mamdani and other critics of Israel have argued the International Criminal Court’s open warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest on charges of genocide and war crimes in Gaza validates their calls for his arrest. Herzog said this week that the warrant should be called into question given the circumstances under which it was issued. He said ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan issued the arrest warrants against Netanyahu in order to distract from allegations he raped a staffer, which led member states of the ICC to vote to remove him from the top leadership position.
“Only in hindsight now we know clearly that it was in order to divert attention from the sexual allegations,” Herzog said.
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