New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday he does not plan to attend protests during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, while denying that he has ever encouraged New Yorkers to protest the Israeli leader.The comments come less than two months after Mamdani said New Yorkers had the right to protest Netanyahu’s visit and that he would leave the decision to them."I do not have any plans to attend any protest at the UNGA," Mamdani said on Wednesday."To New Yorkers I have never encouraged them to protest.
What I have always told them is that they have the right to do so in this city."ISRAEL'S AMBASSADOR SAYS NYC’S MAMDANI IS ‘SOWING CHAOS’ AHEAD OF NETANYAHU’S UN APPEARANCENew York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks outside Gracie Mansion.(Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)Mamdani and Netanyahu have clashed over the Israeli leader’s expected New York visit since July, when Mamdani said he had asked his administration to review applicable law to determine whether the city could execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu.The Democratic socialist mayor said in July that New Yorkers had the right to protest Netanyahu’s visit, calling protest "one of the bedrocks of our city."ISRAELI UN ENVOY BLASTS MAMDANI AS 'CLOWN' OVER CALL TO ARREST NETANYAHU: 'IT'S A STUNT'New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said that while his office lacks the authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under the International Criminal Court's warrant, he urges the U.S.
to do so.(Camara Porter/AdMedia/Sipa USA; Ronen Zvulun/Pool/Reuters)"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," he said during the press conference on July 22.NETANYAHU ACCUSES MAMDANI OF 'FOMENTING HATE,' SAYS RHETORIC IS MAKING NEW YORK JEWS AFRAIDMayor Zohran ...