Boycotts, protests and provocations: Israel prepares for Netanyahu's UN speech
The Prime Minister's upcoming visit to the UN General Assembly in New York is marked by concerns over protests and potential floor provocations. The short visit is unlikely to include meetings with foreign leaders.
In Israel, preparations are underway for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly on September 24 in New York, amid fears of large-scale anti-Israel demonstrations. There is significant concern regarding potential provocations during the plenary session, such as mass walkouts, loud heckling, and the display of prohibited symbols.
New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has called for protests against Netanyahu, and a major demonstration is already planned outside the UN headquarters. The New York City Police Department is deploying significant resources, anticipating protests both at the hotel where Netanyahu will stay and at the UN building itself. Simultaneously, the Jewish community is organizing rallies in support of the Prime Minister.
Netanyahu is expected to arrive in New York on September 23, with his speech scheduled for the following day between 21:00 and 22:00 (Israel time). The visit will be relatively short, as the Prime Minister plans to depart no later than Thursday evening to return to Israel before the start of the Sukkot holiday.
This trip takes place against a backdrop of diplomatic challenges. Due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netanyahu's international travel is effectively limited to the USA. Nevertheless, the visit is viewed as important for Netanyahu in the context of the current election campaign, providing a platform to showcase his leadership on the global stage.
However, the visit also highlights diplomatic constraints: world leaders have not been lining up for meetings with the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Assembly. The Israeli delegation attempted to reschedule the speech for morning hours to align with Israeli prime time, but the UN Secretariat allocated only an afternoon slot.
Notably, Netanyahu's previous speech at the UN in September 2025 was met with a significant boycott, with 77 countries and delegations walking out or failing to attend, while the session itself was marred by heckling before he even began his address.
