Netanyahu's shortened U.S. visit amid ICC warrants

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has significantly shortened his visit to the United States. Under a revised schedule, he is expected to arrive in New York on Thursday morning to deliver a speech before the United Nations General Assembly at 2:00 PM local time, before departing immediately for Israel.

As part of this truncated itinerary, Netanyahu personally decided to cancel a planned meeting with billionaire Elon Musk in Texas, despite an Israeli team having already traveled there to prepare for the encounter. Additionally, no meeting is currently scheduled between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly sessions; while Netanyahu’s staff attempted to arrange a meeting, officials cited conflicting schedules as the reason for the lack of a planned encounter.

Netanyahu’s arrival at the 81st UN General Assembly is marked by intense legal and political friction following International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called on federal authorities to enforce the warrants, a move Israeli officials criticized for fostering an “anti-Semitic atmosphere.” In response to potential unrest, Netanyahu’s aircraft is expected to land at Newark Airport in New Jersey rather than JFK Airport.

Simultaneously, the Trump administration is reportedly preparing comprehensive sanctions against the ICC, which could include travel restrictions for personnel and limitations on the court’s access to the U.S. dollar-based global financial system. In response, the Netherlands is making preparations to ensure the ICC’s continued operations, such as staff salaries and witness protection, should U.S. sanctions disrupt the court’s activities.