Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is en route to New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), is reportedly taking an extended route, avoiding the airspace of several countries except Italy and Greece. The flight path, as shown on Flight Tracker, could be a move to steer clear of the potential risks linked to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu, that were issued over alleged Israeli war crimes in the war against Hamas, according to The Times of Israel. Several countries stated that in accordance with the ICC warrant, they would arrest Netanyahu if he entered their territory. The flight, on Israel’s Wing of Zion state plane, is also reportedly avoiding Spanish airspace, as Spain has vowed to support the ICC probe. Netanyahu, ahead of his departure to the United States, emphasised that he would condemn the leaders who backed Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday (Sep 26), and will speak the “truth” about “the citizens of Israel, the truth of the IDF soldiers, of our country”. “I am now leaving with my wife for the UN General Assembly and Washington. At the UN General Assembly, I will speak our truth – the citizens of Israel, the truth of the IDF soldiers, of our country,” the Israeli PM said at the Ben Gurion Airport before leaving for the US. “I will condemn 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. This will not happen,” he said. He further said that he will meet US President Donald Trump for the fourth time and will discuss with him the opportunities arising from Israel’s victories and the need to complete the war’s goals. “In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time, more than any other leader, with President Trump, and discuss with him the great opportunities that our victories have brought, and also our need to complete the goals of the war, that means: to return all our hostages, to defeat Hamas, and to expand the circle of peace that is open to us following the historic victory on Iran and other victories that we have achieved,” Netanyahu said. ‘Shameful capitulation’ Earlier, Netanyahu’s office issued a warning stating that the recent recognition of a Palestinian state by Western countries would not “obligate” Israel in any way. “The shameful capitulation of some leaders to Palestinian terror does not obligate Israel in any way,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “There will be no Palestinian state,” the statement added, making it clear that the move would not sway Israel’s stance. The remarks come after several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, Australia, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco, recognised the Palestinian state at the ongoing UNGA, much to the dismay of Israel and the US.
