Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marked his 66th birthday on Wednesday with a short diplomatic travel to Germany on. On the way, he was also heavily criticized in Israel and over social media for comments he had made a day earlier, in which he suggested that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, persuaded Hitler to execute the Jews.

But Netanyahu balanced that by receiving congratulatory wishes from two prominent New York leaders, whom he maintains a close relationship with.

First, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted, “Wishing my friend @IsraeliPM a very happy birthday. cc: @netanyahu.” Cuomo attached a photo of his meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem during a solidarity trip to Israel last year.

The picture could also be seen as a subtweet to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who met with Netanyahu on Sunday, but did not get the same treatment the governor got – one reserved for heads of state.

Wishing my friend @IsraeliPM a very happy birthday. cc: @netanyahu pic.twitter.com/d1RwZv5qYd

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) October 21, 2015

Former Mayor of New York City, Michale Bloomberg followed later in the day, tweeting, “Yom Huledet Sameach to Prime Minister Benjamin @Netanyahu.” Like Cuomo, Bloomberg also attached a photo of Netanyahu welcoming him to Israel during an FAA travel ban last year.

Yom Huledet Sameach to Prime Minister Benjamin @Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/WqjhXJX8e8

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) October 21, 2015