Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s flight to New York for the UN General Assembly this week took a noticeably longer route than necessary, avoiding much of Europe.

Flight-tracking data showed that the Israeli state plane “Wing of Zion” crossed Greece and Italy before turning south towards the Strait of Gibraltar and then across the Atlantic.

This incident has drawn attention because of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu earlier this year over alleged war crimes. The warrant was issued in connection with the ongoing Gaza war in which Israel has been accused of severe crimes against humanity, including allegations of causing starvation in the region.

For Netyanhu's trip to New York, a more direct route would have passed over France, S

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