Netanyahu calls Mamdani's stance on Israel ‘absurd’: ‘Its the only democracy in Middle East’

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, July 7, criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the mayor's recent comments questioning whether he could support Israel as a Jewish state, calling the position "ridiculous" and "absurd."

Speaking to CNN, Netanyahu defended Israel as the Middle East's only democracy and argued that all Israeli citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of religion. The exchange followed remarks Mamdani made, where he said he supports Israel's existence only as "a state with equal rights" and could not endorse any country that privileges one religion over another.

Netanyahu rejects Mamdani's characterization of Israel

Responding to Mamdani's comments, Netanyahu said the New York mayor overlooked the status of Israel's Arab citizens and the country's democratic institutions.

"Well, he conveniently forgets that the only democracy in the Middle East is Israel," Netanyahu said. "Twenty percent of our citizens are in fact Muslims... they sit on the Supreme Court, they're in the Knesset, our parliament, they share every walk of life. That's the only place in the Middle East where you actually have this equality that he's talking about."

Netanyahu also criticized some of Mamdani's supporters, claiming some of his supporters had expressed support for extremist groups in the region. 

“But he has supported... these people who murder people, who beheaded our men, burned babies alive and so on. This is not mere cynicism. I mean, it's ridiculous, it's absurd," Netanyahu said. "There are always imperfect democracies. Israel is an imperfect democracy. The United States is an imperfect democracy."

Mamdani said he supports Israel with equal rights for all citizens

During an appearance on ABC, Mamdani said his position was rooted in equal treatment regardless of religion. "I've said time and again that I support the state of Israel as a state with equal rights," Mamdani said.

He added, "I believe that any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can't tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else."

Mamdani has repeatedly criticized Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank and previously said he would direct the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader visited New York, citing the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant alleging war crimes. Netanyahu has rejected the allegations.

According to the Pew Research Center, Jews accounted for about 77 percent of Israel's population in 2020, while Muslims made up roughly 15 percent. Human rights organizations, including Freedom House, have reported longstanding disparities affecting Arab and other minority communities in areas such as education, local government funding, economic opportunity and access to public resources.

Earlier this year, Mamdani also condemned demonstrators expressing support for the militant group responsible for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel who gathered outside a synagogue in Queens, New York.