Danon calls Mamdani a ‘clown,’ warns anti-Israel rhetoric is a dangerous game

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 25, 2026 18:25Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon denounced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent anti-Israel and anti-Netanyahu rhetoric, as well as the recent attack on Jews on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, during an appearance Friday on Larry Kudlow’s Fox Business program.On Wednesday, Mamdani admitted in a video statement released by the mayor’s office that his administration does not have the authority to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Calls for Netanyahu’s arrest and rhetoric vilifying Israel featured prominently throughout Mamdani’s election campaign and have continued since he entered City Hall.Danon said Mamdani’s claims that he intends to arrest Netanyahu are baseless and amount to an attempt to distract from his own failures.“He cannot arrest anyone. He’s a clown. He knows that. It is baseless." Danon said. "He wants to get attention, and so he speaks about Prime Minister Netanyahu.”New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an unknown location, in this still image taken from handout video released July 21, 2026. (credit: NYC Mayor's Office via Youtube/Handout via REUTERS)Danon warns anti-Israel rhetoric has dangerous consequences“It’s a game, it’s a show. But it is a dangerous game," the Ambassador continued. "Because look what happened yesterday. A few hours after he spread another video against Israel. Against the Jewish communities. Jews were attacked on the Upper West Side."Danon was referring to an incident where two men were stabbed in broad daylight on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on Thursday afternoon, according to police.The suspect, Raul Morales, 51, allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before the attack. He then continued down the block, passing a synagogue while shouting “Justice for Islam” and “Allahu Akbar.”Morales appeared before a judge late Friday night and was charged with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime, one count of assault in the first degree as a hate crime, one count of assault in the second degree as a hate crime, and one count of attempted assault in the first degree as a hate crime, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.He remains in custody without bail, while the two victims of the attack are expected to make a full recovery.Are the United Nations worth it?Kudlow also asked Ambassador Danon about the United Nations and the current narrative that it's not accomplishing the functions it was founded to do."We spend a lot of money on it. Does it do more harm than good?" he asked Danon."Absolutely," the ambassador responded, adding that Israel and the US have to work together to reform the UN.Goldie Katz, Jerusalem Post staff, contributed to this article.Follow us on Google