With the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York right now, we’re seeing lots of interesting government aircraft headed to New York. However, arguably no plane is taking a more unusual path than that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to give a speech, and meet with United States President Donald Trump.
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Israel’s government Boeing 767 avoids some Europe airspace
At the moment, Israel’s Prime Minister is flying from Tel Aviv (TLV) to New York (JFK). As usual, he’s flying on the “Wing of Zion,” belonging to the Israeli Air Force, which ordinarily transports the country’s leaders. This is a 25-year-old Boeing 767-300ER with the registration code 4X-ISR.
Israel is no stranger to avoiding the airspace of certain countries, though this 5,677-mile flight is making some noteworthy detours, which you wouldn’t ordinarily see with EL AL planes. While the plane is now out over the Atlantic Ocean, its routing from Israel to beyond the cost of Portugal was quite something.
Rather than just taking a direct routing there, the plane flew in a more roundabout way than usual. It flew over the southern parts of Greece and Italy, before turning south, to avoid flying over France, Spain, etc.
Perhaps most interesting is how the plane passed between Spain and Morocco, as it flew right over the nine mile wide Strait of Gibraltar.
Why is Netanyahu’s plane avoiding certain countries?
Why is Netanyahu’s plane taking this roundabout routing, which is even less direct than you’d find on your typical EL AL flight? The Israeli government hasn’t revealed the reason, but presumably it’s not just a coincidence.
The most common theory seems to be wanting to avoid select Rome Statute signatory countries (the treaty under which the International Criminal Court operates), which could enforce arrest warrants in case of an emergency landing. The treaty requires countries to avoid acts that contradict the charter’s purpose. Keep in mind that countries like Israel, Russia, and the United States, have all withdrawn from this treaty, which assures Netanyahu a level of safety in the United States.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during the Gaza war.
With countries like France and Spain having recently recognized Palestinian statehood, there are increasing concerns about what could happen in the event of Netanyahu landing in those countries, regarding the enforcement of arrest warrants.
That being said, I imagine there even has to be a little more to this, and a general desire to avoid certain airspace. After all, in the event of an emergency, where else would Netanyahu divert to? I can’t imagine he’d feel better about a diversion to Algeria or Libya, for example. So could this instead be more about concern about “bad actors” in the airspace of these countries?
Bottom line
As Netanyahu flies to New York, his plane is taking a rather unusual routing, avoiding flying over select European countries. While no official reason has been given for this, it seems the most likely explanation is a fear of a possible arrest in a country like France or Spain, in the event of a landing there. The measures taken were so extreme that the plane even flew through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar.
As you said, avoiding the airspace it only relevant for emergency landings. I'm asking myself what the actual benefit is, as if he lands in the water presumably these countries will come to rescue him. In the end that should lead to the same, no?
American airbases as emergency landing spots aside, it would have been pretty funny if somebody re-ran the Belarus playbook on Netanyahu: https://onemileatatime.com/ryanair-belarus-flight-diversion/
Meanwhile, the Qatar terrorists are free to come to Europe...
What terrorists? Didn't know that getting an airstrike is a terrorism.
I look forward to the day when the U.S. ends its one-sided support for Israel; an arrangement that offers little tangible benefit to the American people
That being said, I fully back Netanyahu in this conflict not because I'm pro-Israel, but because I'm anti-Palestinian.
Including little kids? Certainly, get rid of Hamas. But, when many bodies of children are found with bullet wound entry points in the same exact spot, as if someone was engaged in target practice at a range, it is more than coincidence. It is intentional.
Another bad take, Ben. Pure speculation w/zero facts.
Dude! It's called abductive reasoning. That is, given what we know, what might be the most likely answer. There are facts. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Bibi. If he were to enter the airspace of any ICC member country, that country has the authority to force his aircraft to land . . . and take him into custody. Thus, it is a reasonable conclusion that Bibi would avoid certain airspace . . . leading to the flight path we see.
Any emergency landings would be at a U.S. air base in any of the aforementioned countries his flight avoided, and certainly Europe wouldn’t pick a fight with Washington. How odd since he has flown to the U.S. a few times and still took the great circle route
It *might* be because a number of countries have now recognized Palestine as a sovereign nation. This *might* signal an attitudinal change that suggests greater caution. Separately, a US Air base in any of these countries would be in the airspace of these countries . . . and Bibi's plane could be forced to a non-US airfield.
I'm quite sure that emergency landings have nothing to do with it, as the nearest suitable airports would still be in those countries (or ones that are even worse). I assume the goal would be to return to Italy if possible, which is equally easy without this detour.
I think their more concerned about hostile acts while the plane is still in the air (I'm not talking about shooting it down or anything, but ATC restrictions etc).
He is a coward and criminal on the run. Its just a matter of time.
It would be amusing to see any of the European "powers" who are most probably incapable of defending the continent from Russian invasion (even though its economy is smaller than Italy's) attempting to take down an IDF plane of any kind including that flying the PM and his entourage. Such an act of war would be met with a swift response by Israel and a rapid surrender by the European country. Certainly the leaders of...
It would be amusing to see any of the European "powers" who are most probably incapable of defending the continent from Russian invasion (even though its economy is smaller than Italy's) attempting to take down an IDF plane of any kind including that flying the PM and his entourage. Such an act of war would be met with a swift response by Israel and a rapid surrender by the European country. Certainly the leaders of any regime declaring war on Israel would be wise to avoid pagers, mobile phones, drones and open-air settings.
Sounds like an illegal guerilla terrorist act by the government of Israel. Os that a threat and are you advocating assassination of government leaders. Ill be turning this website and your information to the FBI for advocating the killing of European leaders and this website as a platform to advocate assassination and killing.
Sounds like an illegal guerilla terrorist act by the government of Israel. Os that a threat and are you advocating assassination of government leaders. Ill be turning this website and your information to the FBI for advocating the killing of European leaders and this website as a platform to advocate assassination and killing.
Israel has an annual GDP nearly 2.5 times that of Ukraine’s. Israel is a high-income country which has a GDP per capita that is around 10 times that of Ukraine’s. Israel has a nuclear weapons arsenal and delivery capability that is robust. The US taxpayers should stop breastfeeding Israel — a country (unlike the US) with universal healthcare coverage for all its resident citizens — and let Israel pay entirely for its own defense and offensive rogue ways.
Two things:
I'm here for the well-reasoned and thoughtful comments.
I would think that arresting a sitting head of state would be complicated.
He literally flew over the middle of Sardinia! Is that not part of Europe?
Come on Ben
So is Greece. As he wrote they flew over Greece and Italy before changing course to stay clear of France and Spain
I don't think this is about the Rome Statute, since Italy and Greece are members. They're not flying over countries that have recognized Palestine in order to avoid paying overflight fees to them. Spain and France have recognized Palestine; Italy and Greece have not.
Last time I checked Greece and Italy are part of European air space
Well he actually flew through Spanish airspace as basically the whole of the straits of Gibraltar (minus the rock) is controlled by Spain.
FIR does not equal sovereign airspace. Countries that are not landlocked will generally provide ATC for some parts of the neighboring international airspace too.
The only place this genocidal monster should be going is The Hague.
Bibi may be a monster but there is no genocide going on in the region, other than Palestinian openly stated goal of killing all Jews.
No one buys the fascist Israeli propaganda anymore, Samo.
The International Association of Genocide Scholars, the United Nations, Amnesty International, Israeli Human Rights organisation B'Tselem, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Physician of Human Rights Israel, the International Criminal Court (ICC), Human Rights Watch and Médecins Sans Frontières all disagree with you. Just to name a few.
When an association everyone can join for 50€ says it's a genocide, and then it's "confirmed" by a committee made of people who openly celebrated October 7, working for organisation known to cooperate with Hamas, it must be true!
Now seriously, the word genocide has a very specific meaning. Truth is not decided by a vote but by facts. And Israeli actions are objectively the exact opposite of genocidal behaviour.
Shame he won't be arrested at JFK...
cankles mctacoface will probably be there with a band and cheerleaders
What a Snowflake!
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