A Republican senator has introduced legislation that would punish any U.S. municipality that enforces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against an official of a U.S. ally, a move aimed at protecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina introduced the American Allies Protection Act, which would disqualify a state or local government from receiving Department of Justice grant money for a four-year period if it enforces an ICC warrant against an official of a NATO ally or major non-NATO ally.
Mr. Budd proposed the legislation in the wake of Mr. Mamdani’s repeated promises that he would order the arrest of Mr. Netanyahu if the prime minister visited New York City. Mr. Mamdani, who will be the city’s first Muslim mayor, has criticized Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
On Nov. 21, 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Mr. Netanyahu and Israel’s former defense minister.
Upon introducing this legislation, Mr. Budd said, “Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s pledge to facilitate the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu is not just ridiculous; it represents a grave threat that could seriously damage America’s relationship with our closest allies and partners.”
He said the U.S. “is not bound by the morally bankrupt ICC” and that Mr. Mamdani’s comments are intended “to virtue signal to his radical, anti-Israel base.”
“Seeking to prevent Prime Minister Netanyahu from setting foot in New York, home to the United Nations, would put Israel at a unique disadvantage at a critical time for the nation ahead of the next meeting of the U.N. General Assembly,” Mr. Budd said.
The North Carolina Republican said the ICC has failed to issue an arrest warrant for Iranian Ayatollah Khamenei for facilitating the terrorist activities of Iran’s proxies, which have targeted U.S. allies and are responsible for the death of American service members.
If it becomes law, Mr. Budd’s American Allies Protection Act could only be waived if the president certifies to Congress that enforcing a particular ICC warrant is essential to the national security of the U.S. and provides a detailed justification for this waiver.
President Trump said he and Mr. Mamdani did not discuss the Israeli Prime Minister during Mr. Mamdani’s White House visit last week, but Mr. Mamdani stood by his views on Israel.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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