Netanyahu's UN Visit Cut Short, Texas Stop Canceled, No Trump Meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make one of his shortest visits to the United States on Thursday, arriving in New York in the morning to deliver his address to the UN General Assembly at 2 p.m. local time before departing for Israel shortly thereafter. The current itinerary suggests he may not spend any nights on American soil, with his trip almost entirely dedicated to his UN speech.

An earlier plan had envisioned a longer visit, including an arrival on Wednesday and a stop in Texas to meet with Elon Musk and tour SpaceX facilities. An Israeli preparatory team had already visited the site before being informed of the cancellation. Israeli officials stated that the Prime Minister decided to scrap this leg of the trip, without specifying whether logistical difficulties played a role.

The planned meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, which Netanyahu's entourage had been attempting to arrange, is also not on the current agenda. A senior U.S. official indicated that Netanyahu was not among the leaders President Trump was scheduled to receive on the sidelines of the General Assembly, as their schedules would not align. Trump is set to leave New York before Netanyahu's arrival and will be in Washington for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Unless there are last-minute changes, the highest-ranking American official Netanyahu might meet is Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Netanyahu's office has noted that the final schedule has not yet been finalized. Meetings with leaders from Gulf countries were also considered but have not been confirmed.

Netanyahu is anticipated to face a hostile reception during his speech. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, believes delegations might walk out of the hall, as they did the previous year. Several protests against the Prime Minister are planned near UN headquarters, alongside pro-Israel rallies. Thousands of police officers, Secret Service agents, and other security personnel are mobilized in New York. U.S. authorities report no specific threats against the General Assembly but have significantly increased security around the building and major traffic routes.