Israel’s prime minister avoided northern Europe en route to the U.S., taking a longer path through southern skies to neutralize risks from hostile governments aligned with the ICC.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official plane, the Wing of Zion, is currently en route to the United States on a highly unusual flight path designed with security and politics in mind.
Instead of flying the standard northern route over central and western Europe, the aircraft crossed only southern European airspace, passing over Greece and Italy before heading toward the Strait of Gibraltar and out over the Atlantic Ocean.
The decision adds considerable distance and flight time — but reflects a calculated precaution. According to assessments, the route was chosen to minimize the risk of an emergency landing in countries that might seek to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against the Israeli leader, issued earlier this year during the Gaza war.
While the ICC has no binding enforcement authority without cooperation from member states, the risk of politically hostile governments exploiting such a warrant is taken seriously by Israeli officials. By limiting overflight to nations considered reliable allies, the prime minister’s team ensured there would be no opportunity for adversarial intervention.
The Wing of Zion, a specially outfitted Boeing 767-300ER, was built for precisely such missions — long-range flights with enhanced security. Thursday’s unusual route underscores not only the political warfare Israel faces in international institutions, but also the determination of its leadership to overcome obstacles and bring Israel’s case directly to the global stage.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.
