NEW YORK – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a letter to Brooklyn City Council member Inna Vernikov indicating that he plans to visit New York City in the near future, a development first reported by the New York Post.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In the letter, Netanyahu thanked Vernikov for inviting him to visit New York around the time of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration but said he would be unable to attend on that date. He added that he intends to travel to the city at a later time.
“Even though I won’t be able to make it on that day, I assure you that I will visit New York soon,” Netanyahu wrote, according to a copy of the letter shared publicly by Vernikov.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said he would direct the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader were to enter the city, citing a 2024 arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court related to allegations stemming from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The United States does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
Legal experts have noted that municipal officials do not have the authority to arrest a sitting foreign head of government, and no law enforcement agency has indicated it would act on such a request.
The ICC last year issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, asserting there were reasonable grounds to believe they bore responsibility for war crimes. Israeli officials have rejected the allegations and criticized the court’s actions.
Vernikov said Netanyahu’s expected visit would be welcomed by many members of New York’s Jewish community, particularly amid heightened concern over antisemitic incidents in the city.
Mamdani has not commented publicly on Netanyahu’s statement that he plans to visit New York.
Game on @ZohranKMamdani ! @netanyahu responds to my invitation to visit NYC in light of Mamdani’s threat to arrest him: “Vernikov told The Post she can’t wait to see Mamdani lose his mind when the PM lands in New York City.” pic.twitter.com/EG6G5fmbua
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) December 21, 2025
This will be such good entertainment, Maybe Mamdani will even agree to meet Netanyahu.
Inna is a fearless fighter for the Jews of NYC, as evident by her record of standing up for us in many situations where other “leaders” cowered.
She called Mandani out on his B.S. about arresting Netanyahu if he came to NYC. Who else had the guts to do it?
B’H’ we have someone in the Council who will stand up for us. Will Satmar do it?
He will have Rikers Island all to himsef once Mamdummy empties it.
inna loves publicity. meanwhile homeless have taken over her district