Netanyahu Curtails New York Visit Amid Security Concerns and Potential Protests
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drastically reduced his visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly, with plans to stay in New York for only a few hours. The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu’s aircraft is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on Thursday, and he will deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly at 2 PM New York time. He is expected to return to Israel the same day, foregoing an overnight stay in America. Notably, for the first time, no journalists will be traveling on the Israeli Prime Minister’s plane.
The report indicates that Netanyahu’s aircraft may land at a military airport in New Jersey or Newark Liberty International Airport, rather than John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Israeli security sources have attributed this decision to coordination difficulties with American officials and concerns over a potential order to impound the aircraft by Zahran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York. However, Mamdani himself has previously clarified that he does not possess the legal authority to enforce an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, stating that such authority rests with the U.S. federal government.
Yedioth Ahronoth further reported that Netanyahu has shortened his stay in New York due to concerns about anti-Israel protests and has also canceled a planned trip to Texas to meet with Elon Musk. The primary focus of Netanyahu’s speech is expected to be on what he terms “threats related to Iran,” with the address also crafted to influence Israeli public opinion. The newspaper anticipates that representatives from some countries may stage protests or walk out of the General Assembly hall during Netanyahu’s speech, a move that reportedly occurred during last year’s address.
In related news, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that a meeting between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump during this visit is unlikely. Earlier in July, Zahran Mamdani had stated that the Mayor of New York lacks the legal jurisdiction to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu, affirming that this authority lies with the U.S. federal government. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
