Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed criticisms from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding Israel's status as a Jewish state on June 25, 2026.

The exchange highlights a deepening diplomatic rift between the Israeli government and the leadership of the U.S. largest city over the definition of equality and democratic governance in the Middle East.

Netanyahu spoke during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., shortly after meeting with U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. The prime minister addressed comments made by Mamdani, who said, "I cannot support Israel because it privileges Jewish citizens over others."

Netanyahu responded by calling those remarks "absurd" [1]. He defended the nature of the state, saying, "It's absurd to say Israel privileges Jewish citizens; Israel is a Jewish state that guarantees equality" [1].

During the briefing, Netanyahu said that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and it treats all its citizens equally [3]. The prime minister sought to counter the mayor's claim that the state's identity inherently favors one group over another.

While some reports described the prime minister's reaction to the proposals as "stupid" [2], other accounts recorded him calling the remarks "absurd" [1]. Netanyahu said that the democratic credentials of the state remain intact despite the criticisms from the New York City mayor.

“"It's absurd to say Israel privileges Jewish citizens; Israel is a Jewish state that guarantees equality."”

This confrontation underscores a growing tension between traditional diplomatic alliances and the ideological shifts within major U.S. municipal leadership. By challenging the mayor of New York City on a global stage in Washington, Netanyahu is attempting to frame the debate around Israel's democratic legitimacy to counter narratives of systemic inequality that are gaining traction in Western urban political centers.