Overview
- Inna Vernikov issued and posted a formal invitation urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit New York City on the day Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani is sworn in.
- Vernikov described the timing as deliberate to spite Mamdani and dismissed his campaign promises as unrealistic, calling the arrest vow a pipe dream.
- Mamdani repeatedly said during the campaign that he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he entered the city, pointing to the International Criminal Court’s 2024 warrant.
- The United States does not recognize ICC jurisdiction and municipal authority over detaining foreign leaders is limited, a point Rep. Jerry Nadler characterized as making the proposal unrealistic.
- Jewish organizations criticized Mamdani after his election, and he has pledged to combat antisemitism, while Netanyahu’s visit remains unconfirmed and both camps did not provide immediate comment in the reports.