• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to attend the UN General Assembly despite facing an ICC arrest warrant.
• Netanyahu accused NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' and promoting division among communities.
• Mamdani stated Netanyahu is 'not welcome' in New York due to war crimes charges, although he acknowledged lack of legal authority for arrest.
• A recent poll shows significant support among Jewish Americans for Mamdani over Netanyahu.
• The political landscape in the U.S. is shifting regarding support for Israel, influenced by rising anti-Israel sentiments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed his intention to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, defying a International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him. In an interview, Netanyahu expressed, "No, I'm not concerned, and I certainly intend to do so," highlighting his history of attending the assembly during his tenure, unless interrupted by security concerns, according to Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

In his remarks, Netanyahu criticized New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani, claiming that his statements are "fomenting hate" and attempting to turn different communities against each other. Mamdani has publicly expressed that Netanyahu should be arrested if he visits New York due to the serious war crimes allegations made by the ICC, which Mamdani supports despite acknowledging that the city lacks legal authority to enforce the arrest himself, according to BBC and India Times.

A recent AP-NORC survey revealed that about 44% of Jewish adults in the US view Mamdani favorably, contrasting sharply with Netanyahu's lower approval rating among the same demographic, as nearly six in ten have an unfavorable opinion of him. This reflects a significant shift in public sentiment towards support for Israel amid rising criticisms, as noted by Los Angeles Times and India Times.

Netanyahu's visit comes at a time when calls for a reevaluation of the U.S. support for Israel have gained momentum, particularly among progressive Democrats aligned with Mamdani’s views. The growing divergence in opinions is significant as it could alter the traditional bipartisan stance on Israel and signals a changing American political landscape, according to Africanews and Africanews.