Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use his address to the United Nations to attack New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, intensifying a public feud over the Israeli prime minister’s conduct of the war in Gaza.
The confrontation comes as Mr Netanyahu faces growing isolation ahead of elections in Israel that he may lose. It will also mark his first visit to New York since Mr Mamdani took office in January.
In a video statement this week, Mr Netanyahu addressed the mayor directly, saying he was travelling to New York “to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers” and “to tell the truth about you”. He also accused Mr Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants, a claim described as false in the source material.
Mr Mamdani campaigned on a promise to have Mr Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes if he visited New York. He later said he had concluded that he did not have the legal authority to carry out the arrest.
This week, the mayor described Mr Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians”. Mr Netanyahu rejects allegations of war crimes.
Israeli opponents of Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing government are planning protests in New York during the visit, adding to the political pressure surrounding his UN address.
