Outgoing Israeli Environment Minister Joins Netanyahu at UN General Assembly

Environment Minister Idit Silman, who will not be returning to the Knesset after the upcoming elections, is traveling to New York to attend events related to her ministry on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This marks her final foreign trip in her current capacity. Silman was seen at Ben Gurion Airport on September 22nd, heading to the U.S. where she plans to participate in high-level environmental discussions and represent Israel at international forums.

Silman's office stated that, as in previous years, she will attend events and discussions on ecology and development, both within the UN and elsewhere in the city, with global leaders and ministers. The goal is to showcase Israel's commitment and contributions to environmental and development issues. She also plans to attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address on September 24th.

Netanyahu himself is scheduled for a brief visit to the U.S. to speak at the annual UN General Assembly session. He is set to depart on Wednesday, September 23rd, arriving Thursday morning, September 24th. His speech is scheduled for 2:00 PM New York time (9:00 PM Israeli time). In an unprecedented move, Netanyahu will spend only a few hours in New York, flying back the same evening.

The Prime Minister's flight, "Knaph Zion," is expected to land at a military airfield in New Jersey or Newark Airport, rather than JFK, due to logistical challenges and concerns about potential restrictions from New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Sources suggest Netanyahu is shortening his stay and avoiding an overnight stay due to fears of potential protests.

Netanyahu has also canceled a planned stop in Texas to meet with Elon Musk, citing coordination difficulties and last-minute arrangements. He will not meet with U.S. President Donald Trump during this visit, nor are any other meetings currently scheduled. His UN address will focus primarily on the Iranian threat, with sources hinting at "surprises." The speech is largely aimed at an Israeli audience, providing Netanyahu a prime-time address to the nation. The Israeli delegation at the UN is preparing for potential disruptions during his speech, such as heckling or organized walkouts by country representatives.