Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to visit New York for a short 24-hour trip later this month to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Despite facing both political and legal controversies, Netanyahu is set to make this visit, according to Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon. The prime minister is scheduled to arrive in New York on September 23, address the General Assembly the following day, and return to Israel that same night.
His visit is taking place against a backdrop of tensions with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has labeled Netanyahu a war criminal. Mamdani had previously stated his intent to seek the Israeli leader’s arrest should he visit the city, though he later admitted that city authorities lack the authority to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC had issued this warrant in November 2024, targeting both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes against humanity related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Israel has firmly denied these allegations.
Netanyahu’s presence at the UN is expected to attract protests. Last year, his speech at the General Assembly prompted a significant number of delegates to leave the hall in demonstration. Israeli officials anticipate similar protests during this year’s visit but have confirmed that Netanyahu intends to proceed with his speech as planned.
The annual United Nations gathering, which runs from September 22 to 28, coincides with the Jewish holidays and Israel’s election period, adding further layers of complexity to Netanyahu’s planned visit. Despite these overlapping events and the anticipated opposition, Israeli representatives underscore the importance of the Prime Minister’s attendance at this international forum.