Netanyahu UN address is expected to focus on Israel’s military actions, Iran and his dispute with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as the Israeli prime minister visits the United States weeks before Israel’s general election.
Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to use his appearance before the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to respond to criticism from Mamdani, who has described the Israeli leader as a war criminal over Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
The visit is Netanyahu’s first trip to New York since Mamdani became mayor in January. It comes as the Israeli prime minister faces an election scheduled for October 27 and continuing international criticism over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Reuters reported that Netanyahu addressed Mamdani directly in a video statement before travelling to New York, saying he was going to the city to “tell the truth about our heroic soldiers” and “to tell the truth about you.”
Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, an allegation the New York mayor has rejected. Mamdani had previously campaigned on a promise to seek Netanyahu’s arrest if he visited New York, although he later acknowledged that he did not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.
Netanyahu and Mamdani Clash Over Gaza
The dispute between the two politicians has become one of the most visible elements surrounding Netanyahu’s UN appearance.
Mamdani has described Netanyahu as “the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians”, while Netanyahu rejects allegations of war crimes and genocide connected to Israel’s military operations.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and his then-defence minister, as well as a Hamas leader, in 2024. Netanyahu and Israeli authorities have rejected the allegations underlying the warrant.
Mamdani initially said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if the Israeli leader travelled to New York. However, after reviewing the issue, Mamdani said the city lacked independent legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant.
He subsequently called on the US federal government to enforce the warrant instead. President Donald Trump had also said Netanyahu would not be arrested while in the United States.
Netanyahu Expected to Address Iran
The dispute with Mamdani is not expected to be the only major subject of Netanyahu’s speech.
Iran is also expected to feature prominently, with Netanyahu likely to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme and military capabilities.
Netanyahu has previously used UN appearances to present Israel’s concerns about Iran, including through charts and other visual material. Reuters reported that his latest address was also expected to follow the familiar themes of defending Israel, confronting its critics and warning about Iran.
The issue has additional significance because Israel and the United States launched a war against Iran on February 28 before Washington and Tehran later agreed to an interim ceasefire that Netanyahu opposed.
The disagreement over that ceasefire has contributed to differences between Netanyahu and the Trump administration, although the United States has continued arms sales to Israel.
No Planned Trump Meeting
One notable feature of Netanyahu’s visit is the absence of a planned meeting with President Trump.
Netanyahu is making an unusually brief trip to the United States, with Reuters reporting that he is expected to spend less than eight hours in the country before returning to Israel after his UN appearance.
His office announced meetings with the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama and Ethiopia, as well as the vice president of Colombia and the prime ministers of Greece, Slovenia and Papua New Guinea.
No meeting with Trump was announced.
Two Israeli officials had previously said Netanyahu’s team was discussing possible meetings with senior American officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but no such meeting had been confirmed.
Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren described the speech as a “campaign speech”, while noting the absence of a meeting with Trump or another senior US official.
Nimrod Goren, president of the Mitvim Institute, said the lack of a meeting with Trump could have significance for Netanyahu ahead of the Israeli election.
Israel Election Adds Political Context
Netanyahu’s UN appearance comes only five weeks before Israelis are due to vote in the October 27 general election.
The prime minister has been in power for much of the past two decades, although his political future remains a central issue in the election campaign.
Reuters reported that opinion polls have suggested the election could end Netanyahu’s long tenure in office, while criticism of Israel’s Gaza war has become an important part of the political environment surrounding the vote.
Oren suggested that Netanyahu’s decision to confront Mamdani and Iran could also be viewed through the lens of the domestic campaign.
However, those comments represent Oren’s interpretation of the political significance of the speech rather than an established outcome or assessment of Netanyahu’s electoral prospects.
Opposition to Netanyahu’s Government
Netanyahu’s visit has also prompted planned demonstrations in New York, including protests by Israelis opposed to his government.
His government has faced international criticism over its policies and military operations in Gaza, while Israeli officials have continued to defend the country’s military actions and stated security objectives.
The diplomatic environment has also changed since the beginning of the Gaza war.
Britain, France and Canada recently announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to Reuters, marking another development in relations between Israel and some of its traditional partners.
Washington’s response to those measures was described by Reuters as muted.
Netanyahu’s Brief New York Visit
Unlike some previous UN trips, Netanyahu’s current visit is focused almost entirely on his General Assembly appearance.
His office has announced meetings with several foreign leaders, but there is no indication of an extended programme of diplomatic engagements with the US administration.
Reuters separately reported that the unusually short trip contrasts with Netanyahu’s week-long US visit the previous year, when he met Trump.
The limited schedule means his UN speech is likely to carry particular significance for his public presentation of Israel’s position.
The prime minister has previously used the UN platform to defend Israeli military policy, highlight threats from Iran and respond directly to international criticism.
This time, however, his speech comes against the backdrop of a domestic election campaign, the continuing Gaza conflict, tensions over Iran and his public dispute with New York’s mayor.
What Netanyahu May Emphasise
Netanyahu is expected to defend Israel’s military actions and address criticism directed at his government.
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He is also expected to speak about Iran and present Israel’s position on Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
His confrontation with Mamdani provides another prominent issue, particularly because the mayor had previously called for Netanyahu’s arrest before acknowledging that New York City did not possess the necessary legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant.
The speech therefore brings together several overlapping issues: Israel’s security concerns, the Gaza war, Iran, international legal proceedings and Netanyahu’s domestic political situation.
Reuters described the expected address as resembling a “campaign speech”, citing former ambassador Michael Oren’s assessment.
For Netanyahu, the UN platform provides an opportunity to present his government’s position directly before an international audience while also addressing issues that are central to Israel’s upcoming election.
