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Mamdani says US should join ICC and enforce Netanyahu warrant, in Theo Von interview

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told Theo Von's podcast the US should join the International Criminal Court and honour its arrest warrants, including the one for Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called "the architect of a horrific genocide."

2 outlets · 0L · 0C · 2R First reported Account updated
Image: New York Post
Image: The Jerusalem Post

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The story, neutrally told

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in an interview with Theo Von on the podcast "This Past Weekend" that the United States should join the International Criminal Court (ICC) and enforce its arrest warrants, including the one against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "If I had my say, the US government would have joined the ICC and honored every single warrant that they've issued," Mamdani said, and he called Netanyahu "the architect of a horrific genocide." The Jerusalem Post reports that Von asked whether Netanyahu could have been arrested during his New York visit, and that Mamdani answered that after reviewing the legal framework the relevant authority rested with the federal government. The New York Post says Mamdani acknowledged in July that he has no power to enforce the 2024 ICC warrant, having found no legal avenues to arrest Netanyahu, despite a campaign vow to have him arrested if he came to New York.

The ICC has 124 member states; Israel and the US are not members and do not recognise its jurisdiction. The New York Post notes that US officials, including members of the Biden administration and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, criticised the warrant when it was issued. Mamdani also discussed Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly last month, in which Netanyahu criticised him and said Jews no longer feel safe in the city. Mamdani called the remarks "strange" and said they were an attempt to divert attention from accountability: "If I were the architect of a genocide, I would probably talk about anything else but that." According to the Jerusalem Post, which covered the interview at greater length, Mamdani said criticism of Israel is not in itself antisemitism and that no Jewish New Yorker is responsible for Israel's actions. He said the city had published a plan to combat antisemitism that day, and described hosting Gazan families at Gracie Mansion and criticising US arms sent to Israel.

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Framing
Both outlets lead with Mamdani's call for the US to join the ICC and his 'architect of genocide' remark. The New York Post casts it as another swipe by an 'anti-Israel' mayor who backed down on his arrest pledge; the Jerusalem Post gives a longer, mostly straight account filed under antisemitism.
Emphasis
The Post stresses the reversal of the campaign arrest vow and Netanyahu's UN attack; the Jerusalem Post stresses Mamdani's fuller remarks on accountability, antisemitism and Gaza.
Leaves out or plays down
The New York Post leaves out Mamdani's statements on antisemitism and Gaza families; the Jerusalem Post leaves out the July admission of no arrest power and the US criticism of the warrant. Neither includes outside response.
Charged language
“anti-Israel mayor”“socialist mayor”“Hizzoner”
For example
“The anti-Israel mayor, who acknowledged this summer that he has no power to enforce a 2024 ICC arrest warrant” — New York Post
“New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani again sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu” — The Jerusalem Post