David Kaufman: Mamdani's anti-Netanyahu provocations could plunge New York into chaos - National Post

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag outside of United Nations headquarters, during a protest in New York on Oct. 9, 2023. Photo by Adam GRAY/AFPArticle contentNEW YORK CITY — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu is speaking at the United Nations in New York this week. But he’s unlikely to cross paths with the city’s Israel-obsessed Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called for the premier’s arrest on numerous occasions.

Last year, while campaigning to lead New York, Mamdani promised to arrest Netanyahu if he steps foot in the city under his watch. This year — in a fiery video branding Netanyahu a “war criminal” and the “architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” — the mayor frustratingly admitted he’s powerless to place Bibi in handcuffs.

Perhaps the White House had something to do with Mamdani’s reluctant about-face. In July, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Netanyahu would not be arrested in the United States, “in any way, shape or form.” The very next day, Mamdani conceded defeat.

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But Mamdani is far from finished. True, the mayor may be unable to jail Netanyahu. Nor, as he announced last week, will he personally demonstrate against Bibi. But like Glenn Close’s infamous character Alex Forrest in “Fatal Attraction,” Mamdani will not be ignored during Netanyahu’s time in New York. Mamdani has repeatedly reminded New Yorkers that they “have the right” to protest while Bibi is in town.

For months, local Jewish groups have bemoaned such provocations, casting blame on Mamdani for contributing to New York’s historic spike in antisemitism. “Sowing chaos” is how Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon described Mamdani’s protest pleas.

Netanyahu released a video on Monday blasting Mamdani “for inciting riots against New York Jews,” before adding, “I’m coming to the UN. I’m going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I’m going to tell the truth about you.”

But Mamdani’s moves are actually far more calculating than they may appear, and his threats could have implications that go far beyond the city’s Jewish community. Mamdani is not simply laying out a case for legitimizing protests against Netanyahu in New York, he’s openly encouraging them — with consequences that could easily extend to Washington, D.C., and beyond.