Netanyahu Cuts US Trip Short for UN Speech, Cancels Musk Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to the United States will be unusually brief, primarily focused on his address at the United Nations General Assembly. He has canceled a planned meeting with billionaire Elon Musk in Texas, a decision reportedly made by Netanyahu himself. The cancellation was attributed to "difficulties with coordination," the need for refueling, and a general aversion to last-minute arrangements, according to Israeli sources. Preparations for the Texas meeting had already begun, with a working group sent to the location.

Instead of the Texas trip, efforts are underway to arrange meetings for Netanyahu in New York on the sidelines of his UN appearance. The prime minister is now expected to arrive in New York on September 24, the same day as his speech, and depart immediately afterward. His address to the UN General Assembly is scheduled for 2:00 PM local time. This marks a significant reduction in the duration of his visit compared to previous trips to the U.S.

Netanyahu will also not meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during this visit, despite attempts by his aides. Trump is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 22 before returning to Washington for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. U.S. administration officials had previously indicated that a meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was unlikely due to scheduling constraints. Another U.S. administration source suggested that Netanyahu's limited time in the U.S. was also influenced by the approaching Israeli elections.

Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly on September 24 will be broadcast live by Ynet.