Netanyahu Heads to UN General Assembly to Defend Israel Amid Accusations
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation have departed for New York to address the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Israeli media reports indicate his plane, "Knf Tzion," will land at a military airfield in New Jersey rather than JFK Airport.
Before his departure, Netanyahu stated his intention to use the UN platform to counter what he described as "terrible lies" being spread internationally against Israel and the IDF. "I am going to New York tonight to defend the State of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF from the UN podium. You hear terrible lies that are spread there and from other platforms around the world. I will fight against these lies. I will fight for the truth of our soldiers and our state," the prime minister declared. He also hinted at "surprises" during his address.
Netanyahu had previously pledged to respond to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who had again labeled the Israeli prime minister a "war criminal." Prior to leaving, Netanyahu visited the family of reservist Neria Leiter in Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek hospital. Leiter was seriously injured in a car ramming attack in Judea and Samaria the previous day. Neria is the son of Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter.