International Palestinian statehood recognition: Netanyahu heads to UN amid warnings of war

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York, diplomatic and military tensions are surging across the Middle East. 

Netanyahu faces what Israeli officials describe as a "tsunami" of international recognition for a Palestinian state, even as he works to engineer a dramatic three-way meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv has intensified talks with Washington and Syrian intermediaries to secure a potential Netanyahu–Sharaa–Trump encounter on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering. Achieving such a meeting would give Netanyahu a high-profile diplomatic victory as he seeks to counter mounting global pressure over the Palestinian issue.

Before departing for New York, Netanyahu declared that the coming year will bring "war and challenges on multiple fronts," pointing first to Iran. Israeli security officials have repeatedly warned of an inevitable confrontation with Tehran, citing daily intelligence claims that Iran is advancing its missile and military capabilities.

Lebanon remains a key focus of Israeli planning, with the military highlighting exercises and readiness for a potential clash with Iran's regional allies, notably Hezbollah. Reports of ceasefire violations and Hezbollah's growing capabilities have fueled concerns of a new conflict along the border.

In Syria, negotiations over a security agreement with Israel remain unresolved. 

Key sticking points include the establishment of a demilitarized zone and the removal of heavy weapons. Israeli officials say failure to reach a deal could prompt continued Israeli strikes to prevent Iranian forces and their proxies from entrenching near its borders.

Netanyahu also faces potential flare-ups in Yemen and Gaza, adding to what he calls a year of "strategic tests" for Israel. 

On the diplomatic front, he has engaged Britain, France, and other nations in an effort to curb momentum for full diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state, including the exchange of ambassadors.

The outcome of Netanyahu's high-stakes trip may hinge on his scheduled talks with President Trump on Friday, a meeting that could shape Israel's next moves amid a volatile regional landscape.