Israeli Ambassador: Netanyahu Avoided European Airspace Over Arrest Concerns,

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu altered his flight route to the United States last month to avoid European airspace due to concerns over an international arrest warrant issued by The Hague, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Yechiel Leiter, revealed this week.

Speaking in an interview with Ynet, Leiter disclosed that Netanyahu’s trip to Washington took an extended 13.5 hours instead of the usual 12. The prime minister was reportedly unable to land in any European country due to the risk of arrest.

“The public is not aware of this, but the reason for the longer flight was that he could not land in any country in Europe,” Leiter said.

Adding to the complexity of the trip, Netanyahu had recently undergone surgery and was accompanied by two doctors in case of a medical emergency. According to Leiter, the altered flight path was a precaution to prevent the prime minister from making an emergency landing in Europe, where he could have faced potential detainment.

“If he had been forced to make an emergency landing in Europe, he would have risked arrest as a war criminal,” Leiter explained. “Therefore, the flight path was designed to pass only over American territory.”

Beyond Netanyahu’s flight concerns, Leiter also criticized European efforts to combat anti-Semitism, calling them contradictory in light of the allegations against the Israeli leader.

“It is impossible to fight anti-Semitism when the person most identified with the Jewish people—the Prime Minister of Israel—is labeled as a criminal,” Leiter said. “I told members of the Senate: If you are really fighting anti-Semitism, first remove the mark of Cain from the Prime Minister’s forehead. If he is defined as a child murderer, then we are all like that—and hence the path to hatred is open.”

Leiter also addressed tensions between Israel and the Biden administration over military aid, criticizing a partial arms embargo imposed on Israel. He claimed that not only were heavy bombs withheld, but also billions of dollars’ worth of previously paid-for weaponry.

Upon assuming his diplomatic post, Leiter said one of his main objectives was securing the release of withheld ammunition—a goal he said was ultimately achieved through the intervention of President Donald Trump.