Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed concerns regarding New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's opposition to Israel, stating that such views hinder the possibility of peace in the Middle East. Herzog's comments were made during an interview with Fox News Digital, following Mamdani's call for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he labeled a war criminal. Herzog warned that Mamdani's rhetoric could incite hatred against Jews, particularly in New York City, which has a significant Jewish population.
Herzog stated, "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." He accused Mamdani of spreading antisemitic rhetoric and risking the safety of his citizens. Herzog emphasized that for peace to be achieved, Israel's right to self-determination must be recognized.
He remarked, "We’re a nation seeking peace... But that requires that Israel will be accepted and people will understand that we have security needs." Herzog also mentioned the need for a better life for the people of Gaza and referenced ongoing negotiations for a resolution involving Hamas. He concluded by questioning the legitimacy of the International Criminal Court's warrant for Netanyahu's arrest, suggesting it was issued to divert attention from other allegations against the ICC Chief Prosecutor.