Binyamin Netanyahuâs long haul to New York to âavoid arrestâ
The Israeli prime ministerâs aircraft took a strange detour which some speculated was to avoid entering the airspace of countries where he is wanted
Gabrielle Weiniger, Tel Aviv Thurs Sept 25 2025, 2.45pm BST, The Times
The Israeli prime ministerâs plane took an unusual circuitous route to New York in an apparent attempt to avoid entering the airspace of countries where he is wanted for war crimes.
Binyamin Netanyahu was on his way to speak at the UN general assembly where he has promised to âtell our truthâ in what is expected to be a controversial speech. He is known for having used props and theatrics there in the past.Netanyahuâs state aircraft, Wing of Zion, avoided Spanish and French airspace, according to the aviation website Flight Tracker.
The Times of Israel suggested that the longerjourney was taken to avoid countries that are signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued a warrant for Netanyahuâs arrest, alongside the former defence minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes.
The British government has indicated that Netanyahu would face arrest if he travelled to the UK, while France has said the prime minister may have immunity as Israel is not an ICC member state.
Analysts and journalists remarked on the unusual route on social media, saying that it was indicative of Israelâs diplomatic isolation.
âFew things illustrate how Netanyahu has navigated Israel to diplomatic isolation than the route his plane (without journalists) is taking this morning en route to New York, carefully threading its way to avoid flying over countries where he may be arrested on an ICC warrant,â wrote Anshel Pfeffer, Netanyahuâs biographer and a correspondent for The Economist.
âTo save fuel on its circuitous ICC-evading route Netanyahuâs Boeing 767 is flying half-empty, without any journalists. Also absent is the [National Security Council] head [Tzachi] Hanegbi who opposed both the Gaza City offensive and the Qatar strike and is on his way out,â he added.
Yanir Cozin, a correspondent with Israelâs army radio, said: âPrime Minister Netanyahuâs plane is taking a long and unusual route to New York, flying along the southern Mediterranean route, significantly extending the flight==. Why? To avoid a situation where an emergency landing would be required in a country that would enforce the arrest warrants of the International Court.â
Netanyahuâs speech at the UN comes after a week of diplomatic shifts, with Israel-allied countries including the UK, France, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognising the state of Palestine in response to Israelâs continued war on Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank.
âIâm going with my wife to the UN general assembly and to Washington. At the UN general assembly Iâm telling our truth â the citizens of Israel, the truth of the IDF soldiers, of our country. I will denounce those leaders who, instead of denouncing the murderers, rapists and child burners, want to give them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel. That will not happen,â Netanyahu said at Ben Gurion airport on Thursday morning ahead of his speech on Friday.
Netanyahu will meet President Trump in Washington on Monday. The Trump administration has condemned moves by western powers to recognise a Palestinian state. Trump is, however, expected to warn Netanyahu to moderate his response.
https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-war/article/binyamin-netanyahus-long-haul-to-new-york-to-avoid-arrest-mdk0mktwt