Day: July 23, 2026

#### What Happened The controversy started when Mamdani posted a video to X on Tuesday saying he had looked into “every avenue available” to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Netanyahu, but that NYC “does not have the independent legal authority” to do so. ce5c Mamdani called Netanyahu “a war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” citing the ICC warrant issued in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. He said Netanyahu is “not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large”, and urged the federal government to “join the ICC and execute this warrant”. 256c The post was viewed over 36 million times. 9b0d #### Huckabee’s Response U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded on social media, calling Mamdani an “evil anti-Semite who deliberately lies about serious things like ‘genocide’ to stoke Jew hate”. ead2 This matches the headline from the Newsmax graphic you shared: “HUCKABEE: MAMDANI ‘EVIL’ FOR NETANYAHU ARREST THREAT”. Other Republicans also pushed back. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted: “Trying to find where Mamdani called for the arrest of the Hamas terrorists who plotted the October 7th attacks. Disgusting and Disgraceful”. UN Ambassador Mike Waltz called it “pure political theater”. 9b0d6e38 #### The Legal Reality Legal experts and officials note several barriers to any such arrest: 1. The U.S. does not recognize the ICC and the 2002 American Servicemembers Protection Act bars local law enforcement from cooperating with the ICC. 2. Diplomatic immunity: The UN Headquarters Agreement grants protections to visiting heads of government, and head-of-state immunity generally applies. 3. Federal authority: Legal scholars said any arrest attempt would “face significant legal challenges” and that “federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes”. 5faa6e384ec4 President Donald Trump also shut the door, posting: “Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America”. ce5c #### Netanyahu and Israel’s Response Netanyahu’s office called the ICC a “kangaroo court” and said Mamdani “should focus on fixing the damage his policies have caused New York”. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said Netanyahu “will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride”, and added “if anyone should be arrested, it is Mamdani”. 5faaeeb3253d Netanyahu himself dismissed the threat as “silly” and “folly”. 3277 #### Background Mamdani, NYC’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, campaigned on enforcing ICC warrants against Netanyahu and others. He has repeatedly called Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide”. The ICC warrant alleges responsibility for war crimes including starvation and attacks on civilians from Oct. 8, 2023 to May 20, 2024. Israel rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction. 534f9b0dead2f57e Bottom line: Mamdani conceded NYC lacks authority to arrest Netanyahu, but his pledge drew sharp condemnation from Huckabee and other officials who called it antisemitic and outside a mayor’s jurisdiction. Netanyahu is still expected to attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September. ce5c Read More>

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement Wednesday that clears the way for American companies to participate in the kingdom’s planned nuclear energy program while strengthening economic and strategic ties between the longtime allies. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the 123 Agreement and a related bilateral safeguards agreement, the Energy Department announced. The deals establish the legal framework for U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation and set standards for nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation. The department said the agreement will expand opportunities for American companies to supply nuclear technology and services to Saudi Arabia, supporting U.S. jobs and domestic supply chains while helping the kingdom meet growing energy demand. “These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said in a statement. He said the agreements uphold “the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation” while relying on American nuclear technology and expertise. The administration will now send the agreement to Congress for review under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Such agreements are required before the United States can export nuclear reactors, fuel or other significant nuclear technology to another country for civilian use. The administration said the agreement is intended to expand U.S. nuclear exports, create American jobs, strengthen U.S. energy and national security and reinforce global nuclear nonproliferation standards. The signing follows months of negotiations after Wright said in April that Washington and Riyadh were working toward a formal 123 Agreement, calling it an important step toward a long-term civil nuclear partnership. Saudi Arabia has sought to develop a civilian nuclear power industry as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. Saudi officials have said nuclear power will help meet rising domestic electricity demand while letting the kingdom export more of its oil production. The agreement also comes as the U.S. seeks to compete more aggressively with China and Russia, both of which have expanded exports of civilian nuclear technology and pursued nuclear power projects around the world. The agreement is expected to receive scrutiny on Capitol Hill, where some lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates have questioned the safeguards governing Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions. Administration officials have said the accord preserves longstanding U.S. nonproliferation standards while strengthening America’s position in the global civil nuclear market. Read More> Related Stories:  Rubio: Saudi Nuclear Deal Won’t Spur Proliferation Trump Backs Deal That Could Let Saudis Enrich Uranium