Netanyahu Splits Prime Ministerial Powers Between Two Ministers Before UN Trip

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States shortly to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. As is customary during his travels, Netanyahu has appointed a replacement to assume his powers while he is abroad. However, this time, Netanyahu has appointed two individuals instead of one.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin has been appointed as one acting prime minister. Additionally, Defense Minister Israel Katz has also been appointed as a replacement. Katz will be specifically responsible for cabinet meetings during Netanyahu's absence.

Netanyahu's visit is expected to be very brief, lasting only a few hours. He is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly and then return to Israel the same day. This is an unusual schedule compared to his previous visits, where he typically held several policy meetings in addition to his speech.

The Prime Minister's Office insists the short visit is due to security considerations. Sources close to Netanyahu express concerns about a potential attempt to harm him during his stay in New York, although it is unclear if this fear is based on specific intelligence. The U.S. Secret Service is reportedly involved in preparations for his arrival to an unusual extent.

Despite the security concerns, Netanyahu's tight schedule leaves little room for significant policy meetings. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to be in Washington preparing for a meeting with China's President Xi, and a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also not anticipated. While efforts to arrange additional meetings are ongoing, no significant policy engagements are currently scheduled.