Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined a high-profile legal team defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against war crimes charge, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last Thursday.
“This is a turning point that will be remembered in history,” Cuomo declared Sunday at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square at an event organized by the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education. “True allies stand together and fight for the State of Israel. I am honored to join the prime minister’s defense against the ICC charges and to oppose the rising tide of antisemitism”, he added.
The legal team, led by renowned defense attorney and Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, is tasked with challenging the ICC’s claims. The Hague-based tribunal has accused Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity and war crimes stemming from Israel’s military response to the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Dershowitz, who initially revealed his involvement in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, has assembled a team of prominent legal experts to mount a robust defense. Cuomo’s decision to join Netanyahu’s defense adds a new chapter to his attempt at political rehabilitation. The former governor resigned in 2021 amidst sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies, but has since signaled aspirations for a political comeback, potentially as a candidate for New York City mayor.
During his Sunday speech, Cuomo used the opportunity to call out what he described as media bias against Jews. He also criticized The New York Times for its reporting on the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in Dubai, accusing the newspaper of minimizing antisemitic violence.
“Rabbi Kogan was not simply ‘found dead.’ He was abducted and murdered in an act of terrorism,” Cuomo stated. “The failure to accurately label such incidents as antisemitic acts perpetuates a dangerous narrative.”
Netanyahu is the first leader of a modern Western democracy to face an arrest warrant from the ICC. The charges against him and Gallant have drawn intense international scrutiny and sharp divisions, reigniting debate over the court’s role in adjudicating conflicts involving major powers. Critics argue that the tribunal risks undermining its legitimacy by focusing disproportionately on certain nations, while supporters see its actions as a necessary step toward accountability.
