New York is bracing for a turbulent UN General Assembly week after the US again refused a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — subject of an ICC arrest warrant since November 2024 — prepares to address the hall in person. The contrast has drawn international criticism and is set to shape the atmosphere in the city for anyone there that week.
The UN General Assembly voted 152 to 3 to let Abbas speak by video, as he did last year, after Washington blocked him and his delegation from travelling for a second year running. That puts the US at odds with the 1947 headquarters agreement obliging the host country to admit diplomats to the UN. It echoes 1988, when Yasser Arafat was likewise denied a visa.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, flew into Newark Airport in New Jersey rather than a New York field, reportedly to sidestep the ICC warrant, which binds more than 120 Rome Statute countries but not the US. Dozens of delegations walked out during his 2025 speech and a similar diplomatic boycott is expected this year, along with large demonstrations — Times Square saw sizeable protests last September. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he considers Netanyahu a war criminal who belongs in The Hague, though city enforcement options are limited.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is that UNGA week is one of the most disruptive times to be in Midtown. Streets around the UN headquarters, the Meadowlands helicopter route and major avenues are routinely locked down, and this year heavy protest activity in Midtown and Times Square is likely on speech days. Expect road closures, security perimeters, honking gridlock and slower crossings anywhere near the East Side. If your trip overlaps the debate, build in extra time, use the subway rather than crosstown buses or taxis, and keep hotel and dinner reservations flexible. Protest marches can close squares with little notice, so check NYPD advisories on the day.
Beyond the logistics, the story matters because it shows how a diplomatic event reshapes a city for visitors — and why travelling during major global summits in New York, or any host city, demands a bit of planning.