SHAH ALAM – Michael Rapaport’s attempt to roll out the welcome mat for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has got internet users bringing past receipts on social media, mocking the American actor over his previous promise to leave New York if Zohran Mamdani became the city’s mayor.
The American actor and comedian found himself at the centre of online ridicule after criticising Mamdani’s calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to face justice over alleged war crimes and publicly inviting the Israeli leader to his New York home for a Shabbat dinner.
Rather than debating Rapaport’s support for Netanyahu, many internet users turned the spotlight on the actor himself, questioning why he remained in New York despite previously vowing to leave if Mamdani won office.
The latest exchange began after Mamdani released a video statement calling on the United States federal government to arrest Netanyahu should he visit New York, describing the Israeli premier as a “war criminal” and “the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.”
The mayor cited the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) November 2024 arrest warrant against Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
However, Mamdani later clarified that New York City lacks the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant after receiving guidance from the city’s Law Department.
“It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.
“The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," Mamdani said.
He also said Netanyahu was “not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”
Rapaport, a vocal supporter of Israel and longtime critic of Mamdani, quickly responded on Threads.
“Mamdani can’t lower rent, can’t keep New Yorkers safe, and can’t stop millionaires from leaving. But he has time to demand the federal government arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This is what a socialist mayor looks like. All style, zero substance," Rapaport wrote.
The actor later doubled down by extending a personal invitation to Netanyahu.
“I would like to personally invite Benjamin Netanyahu to my home in New York City for Shabbat dinner.
“I’m born, raised and I live in NYC. It would be great to have you in my home anytime you’re in the city I love," Rapaport posted.
He also extended the invitation to several Israeli political figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman, saying “democracy is alive and well right here in the Big Apple.”
But the posts did not generate the response Rapaport may have expected.
Instead, commenters flooded the threads with reminders of the actor’s own statements during New York City’s mayoral race, when he repeatedly warned he would leave the city if Mamdani emerged victorious.
One of the most-liked responses came from media outlet Crust News, which wrote: “You claimed you would leave New York if Mamdani was elected. New Yorkers are curious about the progress of that.”
Another user remarked: “You were supposed to leave NYC 203 days ago.”
Others joined in with jabs such as “Nobody even wants you in the city” and “Don’t you live in a van down by the river?”
It has been approximately two years, nine months and two weeks (or about 1,025 days) since the current Gaza genocide began on Oct 7, 2023.
The military campaign by Israel on Palestine and subsequent humanitarian crisis escalated with latest statistics by the Gaza Health Ministry stating that there has been over 73,305 Palestinians deaths and more than 173,900 people wounded, while thousands more remain uncounted or missing under destroyed buildings.