Netanyahu to Address UN General Assembly Amid Palestinian Leader's US Entry Ban

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a speech at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. The address, set for Thursday afternoon in the US, 9 PM Israel time, is strategically timed for Israeli prime-time viewing, indicating its content will likely target the domestic audience ahead of elections, as well as the international community. This marks Netanyahu's return to the UN podium after previous addresses.

In parallel, the US State Department has officially confirmed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation will be barred from entering the United States to attend the General Assembly. The stated reasons for the ban include the PA's continued support for terrorism, both in rhetoric and through financial payments to "terrorists," as well as incitement in Palestinian textbooks and public speeches by PA officials, including Abbas.

Further contributing to Abbas's exclusion are the PA's actions in pursuing legal proceedings against Israel at international tribunals, specifically the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. Consequently, Abbas will be compelled to deliver his address remotely via video link.

Regarding potential meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly, reporter Tamir Murg stated that it is uncertain whether a requested meeting between Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump will materialize. Earlier reports indicated that the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, had attempted to prevent Netanyahu's arrival in the city, a threat that was dismissed as having no legal basis.