New York | September 24, 2026

Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly in a visit lasting only a few hours. His aircraft has been rerouted to Newark, his schedule stripped of the usual diplomatic ceremony, while a 2024 International Criminal Court arrest warrant hangs over the visit.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly called for Netanyahu’s arrest and urged Washington to enforce the warrant. Trump, meanwhile, has pledged that Netanyahu will not be arrested “under any circumstances.”

But the more revealing issue is what Netanyahu is asking Washington to do politically.

Ahead of the visit, he reportedly told pro-Israel donors and American Jewish leaders that Israel needs to influence American public opinion in order to strengthen US support.

The message goes beyond weapons and aid.

It is about empathy.

The Analytical Frame

From the perspective of the Axis of Resistance, the demand itself is revealing.

Israel increasingly needs Washington to promote its narrative to an American public that is witnessing the consequences of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The destruction, civilian deaths, and images emerging from Gaza and Lebanon have made continued unconditional support increasingly difficult.

Meanwhile, billboards surrounding the UN headquarters carrying messages such as “US Support Israel,” “A Stronger Israel, A Stronger America,” and “Stronger Alliance, A Safer Tomorrow” are political propaganda more than arguments.

When persuasion becomes harder, branding becomes more important.

📊 The Numbers

A July 2026 Economist/YouGov poll found that 47% of Americans believe Netanyahu has committed war crimes in Gaza, while 49% support enforcing the arrest warrant if he enters the United States.

Support for Israel has also declined sharply among younger generations.

Mamdani’s electoral victory in New York further demonstrated that openly criticizing Israel is no longer necessarily a political disqualifier in the United States.

Netanyahu appears to understand this shift. His Israeli election campaign has even placed Mamdani among Israel’s political adversaries.

An Israeli prime minister campaigning against an American mayor is a striking indicator of how seriously this political shift is being perceived.

Washington’s Balancing Act

Trump is publicly shielding Netanyahu from arrest while maintaining political distance during the visit.

No high-profile bilateral meeting has been announced, and the traditional image of an unquestioningly united US-Israel alliance appears increasingly muted.

At the same time, the MAGA coalition is divided over the war with Iran, with figures such as Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene openly criticizing Trump’s position.

The US administration therefore faces two parallel pressures: protecting a strategic ally while managing an increasingly skeptical American electorate.

The Axis of Resistance Perspective

From the perspective of the Axis of Resistance, the demand for American empathy is itself part of the strategic picture.

The battle is no longer being fought only over territory, weapons, and diplomacy.

It is also being fought over legitimacy and public opinion.

Netanyahu will address the UN and leave New York within hours.

He will not be arrested.

But the more consequential battlefield lies beyond the UN podium: American public opinion.

And the assumption of automatic and unconditional US support is facing increasing pressure.

AlMuraqeb will continue monitoring the UN General Assembly and the impact of Netanyahu’s visit on American public opinion.