NYC Councilwoman Vernikov invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to New York City after Mayor-elect Mamdani threatened to arrest him. (Getty)
"In recent months, there have been irresponsible and frankly absurd statements made by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has campaigned on the promise of ‘arresting’ you upon setting foot in our city," Vernikov, who is Jewish, wrote in her letter to Netanyahu.
"Whether individuals agree or disagree with your policies, you are the duly elected Prime Minister of the State of Israel: a democratic nation that stands as a beacon of hope, freedom, western values, resilience, and strength in a region surrounded by tyranny and terror."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign and Netanyahu’s office for comment.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attend a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025. (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)
In late October, more than 650 rabbis signed onto a letter condemning Mamdani's positions on Israel that were labeled aantisemitic by many of his critics.
"New Yorkers have spoken, electing Zohran Mamdani as the next Mayor of New York City. We recognize that voters are animated by a range of issues, but we cannot ignore that the Mayor-elect holds core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions and most cherished values," The UJA-Federation of New York, JCRC-NY, ADL New York/New Jersey, AJC New York and the New York Board of Rabbis said in a joint statement after Mamdani's victory.
Since being elected, Mamdani has attempted to reassure skeptics in the Jewish community.
"We will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism," Mamdani said on election night, adding the next day that he takes the issue of antisemtisim "incredibly seriously."
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
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