Netanyahu's jet largely avoids European airspace in unusual route to New York
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government jet flew an unusual route from Tel Aviv to New York Thursday, largely avoiding European airspace.
Netanyahu, traveling to the United Nations General Assembly, briefly flew over Greece and Italy, but then took a circuitous route across the Mediterranean, directly over the strait of Gibraltar and then across the Atlantic, according to FlightRadar24 records viewed by ABC News. The unusual route added more than two hours to the prime minister's flight time, the records show.
In previous U.S. trips, Netanyahu's jet has flown over Greece, a large swath of Italy, before crossing the entire length of France.
Italy, France and Greece are all members of the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu has rejected the ICC's arrest warrant and said the actions and charges are "absurd and false."
FlightRadar24 records show the prime minister's plane routinely flying over European airspace in the last year. Israeli media reports this is the first time Netanyahu has avoided European airspace since the ICC war crimes arrest warrant was issued in 2024.
"For some governments, giving Netanyahu permission to fly over their country would be a political liability. In the past no one would have known but now with real time flight tracking on every smart phone everyone will be able to track his plane. Technology has changed diplomacy in this small way," said Steve Ganyard, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and ABC News contributor.
Netanyahu's flight lasted 13 hours, while a commercial flight from Tel Aviv to JFK airport routinely takes just under 11 hours.
The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
