Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to New York this week for a United Nations speech — but this time, he is barely staying long enough to unpack.
Netanyahu is expected to arrive in the U.S. on Wednesday and address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, before heading straight back to Israel. Israeli officials have described the trip as unusually limited, with reports suggesting he may spend only several hours in New York and skip an overnight stay.
The stripped-down itinerary comes as Netanyahu faces a particularly tense reception in New York, from expected protests to his ongoing feud with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Hanging over all of it is the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against him — and, notably, the absence of a scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump.
Why Is Netanyahu’s Trip So Short?
UN General Assembly week is normally a major diplomatic opportunity for world leaders, packed with bilateral meetings, side events and negotiations.
Not so much for Netanyahu this year.
According to Israeli and U.S. officials cited by The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu’s schedule has been reduced significantly. He is expected to arrive around the time of his speech, deliver his address and leave shortly afterward.
Israeli media have also reported that his official plane, Wing of Zion, is expected to land at a military airport in New Jersey rather than John F. Kennedy International Airport. Reports have pointed to logistical and security considerations surrounding the aircraft.
Netanyahu has also reportedly cancelled a planned stop in Texas to meet Elon Musk and is not expected to spend a night in the U.S.
The result is a visit that looks less like the usual week-long diplomatic circuit and more like a carefully timed appearance.
The ICC Arrest Warrant Hanging Over The Visit
At the center of much of the controversy is the ICC arrest warrant issued for Netanyahu in November 2024.
The International Criminal Court alleged that there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were responsible for crimes including the use of starvation as a method of warfare and attacks against civilians in connection with the genocide in Gaza.
But legally, the warrant does not give New York City officials the power to simply arrest Netanyahu.
That became particularly important once Mamdani entered the picture.
Mamdani And Netanyahu’s Long-Running Feud
The tension between Netanyahu and Mamdani did not begin with this week’s UN visit.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if he came to New York, citing the ICC warrant.
After taking office, however, Mamdani acknowledged that New York City does not independently have the legal authority to enforce the warrant.
He has nevertheless continued to argue that Netanyahu should face arrest and has repeatedly criticized the Israeli prime minister over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The two leaders traded fresh blows this week.
Netanyahu released a video directly addressing Mamdani, saying, “Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani,” and accusing him of supporting Hamas and inciting unrest against Jewish New Yorkers.
He also said he was coming to the UN to “tell the truth” about Mamdani as well as about Israel’s soldiers.
Mamdani responded by rejecting Netanyahu’s accusations and returning to the ICC warrant, saying that Netanyahu is the subject of an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He also described Netanyahu as an “architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians,” a characterization that reflects Mamdani’s political position and is rejected by Israel.
So, yes: Netanyahu is arriving in the city led by a mayor who has repeatedly called for his arrest — even though that mayor has acknowledged he cannot actually make the arrest happen.
What Happened At The UN Last Year?
This year’s visit is also arriving with some recent history.
When Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly last year, dozens of delegations walked out as he began his speech, according to Israeli media reports.
His appearance came amid intense international criticism of Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, making the walkout a highly visible moment during the General Assembly.
This year, the atmosphere surrounding his return is expected to be similarly tense, with demonstrations planned around his appearance.
Protests Are Expected Again
Netanyahu’s shortened visit comes as activists prepare for protests in New York surrounding his UN appearance.
Demonstrations are expected around the General Assembly, with groups opposed to Israel’s war in Gaza planning to take to the streets during his visit.
That means Netanyahu’s time in New York will likely involve a significant security operation, particularly given the political tensions surrounding his arrival.
The protests are not happening in isolation, either. They are taking place against the backdrop of the ICC warrant, the war in Gaza and Netanyahu’s increasingly public confrontation with Mamdani.
And Then There’s Trump
Perhaps the most notable detail about Netanyahu’s unusually brief trip is who he apparently won’t be meeting.
A U.S. official told The Times of Israel that Netanyahu is not currently scheduled to meet Trump during the UN gathering, while The Jerusalem Post reported that the latest schedules placed Netanyahu’s arrival after Trump had already left New York.
That is particularly striking because Netanyahu has traditionally used UN General Assembly week for high-level meetings with American presidents and other international leaders.
Trump, meanwhile, did meet Mamdani this week at Gracie Mansion. The two discussed New York issues including housing and immigration, despite their significant political differences.
So the optics are rather unusual: Trump and Mamdani have just sat down together in New York, while Netanyahu’s own visit is being compressed into a largely in-and-out trip.
The Bottom Line
Netanyahu’s 2026 UN visit may be one of his shortest — but it is hardly low-profile.
He is expected to fly into New Jersey, travel to New York for his UN address and leave the United States the same day.
In between, he’ll face protests, a hostile political reception from Mamdani and renewed attention to the ICC warrant against him.
The UN General Assembly is supposed to be about diplomacy on a global stage. This year, Netanyahu’s appearance is also becoming a tightly compressed snapshot of the political and diplomatic pressures surrounding Israel — one speech, a few hours in New York, and then straight back to Israel.
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