Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drastically shortened his upcoming trip to New York to just a few hours, completely eliminating any overnight stay following warnings from domestic security officials, Israeli media reported.
According to Channel 13, the decision to curtail the visit was made after high-level security evaluations in recent days, several of which Netanyahu attended personally. The security briefing featured specific intelligence warnings that prompted the recommendation to limit his time in the United States, though officials did not reveal the precise nature of the threats.
Under his revised schedule, Netanyahu is set to leave Israel late on Wednesday and land in New York early Thursday morning. He will deliver his speech to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and depart back to Israel later that same day, bypassing an overnight stay.
This brief visit comes amid expectations of large-scale demonstrations in New York protesting Israel's military actions in Gaza and violations in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for both Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The compressed itinerary has also led to the cancellation of key meetings. Netanyahu will not meet with US President Donald Trump, as Israeli officials were unable to align the two leaders' schedules. An American official confirmed that Netanyahu is not on the list of foreign dignitaries Trump is scheduled to meet. Furthermore, a planned stop in Texas to meet with businessman Elon Musk was abruptly called off, even though an Israeli advance security team had already arrived at the location. Consequently, Netanyahu's trip is now strictly limited to his address at the UN podium.
