Herzog blasts Mamdani, ICC and Iranian regime in wide-ranging interview

Israeli President Isaac Herzog sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a Fox News interview published Saturday, accusing him of promoting antisemitic rhetoric that endangers Jewish residents while also condemning the International Criminal Court and Iran's ruling regime.

During the wide-ranging interview, Herzog addressed a series of issues affecting Israel, including recent antisemitic violence in New York City, the ICC's arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the U.S.-Israel relationship, and what he described as the global threat posed by the Iranian regime.

"Mamdani does not respect my nation's right for self-determination. He's basically spreading blasphemy, hate, antisemitic rhetoric. He should understand that he's risking his own citizens. He’s risking their safety, well-being and life."

Herzog also referred to recent violent attacks on Jewish residents in New York City, which he blamed on Mamdani's rhetoric.

"I think New York will continue way after Mamdani, and I hope he won't create any irreversible damage, and I hope the citizens of New York will be as safe as was promised to them."

The Israeli president also criticized former International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan, arguing that his decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials was an attempt to divert attention from allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

"That case has to be dropped, and the ICC should revert it completely, and not fall into the trap of hate and lies that Karim Khan presented simply to cover for himself," Herzog declared.

Discussing the relationship between Israel and the United States, Herzog emphasized the countries' shared biblical heritage.

"We both drink from the fountain of the Bible. We both drink from this set of values which was commanded to all of us by these historic, spiritual books given to us by the Almighty."

He also lamented that many younger Americans no longer read the Bible because they spend more time on social media, arguing that this leaves them vulnerable to anti-Israel misinformation because it is "very easy to smear Israel on TikTok, but that doesn't say the real truth."

Herzog said Israel's political diversity is often overlooked, describing the country as a democracy with parties representing a broad ideological spectrum, "from Palestinian-oriented parties, to extreme right-wing, even fascist, on the verge of fascism parties.”

Turning to Iran, Herzog condemned the country's leadership, accusing it of prioritizing terrorism over the welfare of its own citizens.

"They take their people's food and money and spend it on terror all over the world. It's a given fact. You ask yourself, why?"

He answered his own question by arguing that the regime's ideology drives its actions:

"The ideology does not accommodate any other religion or moderate Islam, for that matter. That is why it is so dangerous. You see it in their missile program, you see it in Hormuz, you see it in the nuclear desire, you see it in the butchering of tens of thousands of its citizens... Look how much suffering. So many American citizens were killed by this regime."

Herzog has served as Israel's president since 2021. While the presidency is largely ceremonial and carries little executive authority, the officeholder frequently serves as one of Israel's chief international representatives.

Throughout his presidency, Herzog has regularly used international media appearances to advocate for Israel and defend its policies abroad.