Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, embarked on a visit to the United States early Monday, flying from Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport to San Francisco amid demonstrations in both nations.
A key element of his itinerary is an eagerly awaited meeting with President Joe Biden.
Before his departure, Netanyahu addressed the media his agenda.
“My agenda includes discussions with numerous global dignitaries, most notably President Biden. Topics will range from Iran to expanding peaceful alliances.” Netanyu said.
His visit goes beyond diplomatic discussions. He is scheduled to engage with leaders in Silicon Valley, underscoring Israel’s ambitions to be a leading player in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Notably, he will hold discussions with Elon Musk of Tesla and X regarding AI initiatives and potential investments in Israel.
“Our dialogues with Musk will revolve around AI. We aim to persuade him to invest more in Israel over the upcoming years. His pioneering efforts are revolutionizing global scenarios and Israel’s trajectory. We envision Israel as a trailblazer in AI, similar to our achievements in cybersecurity,” Netanyahu said in an official statement.
Later on Monday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to New York, preparing for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He is expected to engage with various world leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Regarding the strong interest in bilateral talks, he remarked, “It’s heartening to see the plethora of meeting requests. While I can’t honor all, I aim to engage with the majority.”
In addition, one significant meeting on his schedule is with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking their first in-person meeting since the beginning of Netanyahu’s recent term, despite Zelenskyy’s persistent invitations.
Moreover, the Prime Minister’s busy agenda also includes sessions with leaders such as Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, and Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña. Notably, Paraguay recently announced the relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem.
Furthermore, Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UNGA on Friday and will return to Israel on Sunday, expected to arrive just before the observance of Yom Kippur begins at Ben-Gurion Airport.
