![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes statements at Ben Gurion Airport ahead of his visit to Washington DC, where he will meet with US President Donald Trump in Tel Aviv, Israel on February 02, 2025. [Avi Ohayon (GPO) / Handout - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AA-20250202-36932940-36932939-ISRAELI_PRIME_MINISTER_DEPARTS_FOR_US_TO_MEET_WITH_TRUMP-1-1.jpg)
The official aircraft of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departed Israel on Wednesday without him, flying to an undisclosed destination amid rising regional tensions, Israeli media reported. Channel 12 said the plane, known as the “Wing of Zion,” took off from Ben Gurion Airport while Netanyahu was attending a hearing at the Tel Aviv District Court, where he was giving testimony in his ongoing corruption trial. The broadcaster noted that the flight occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Iran, recalling that the same aircraft was flown out of Israel on June 13, 2025, just hours after the outbreak of war with Tehran. No official explanation has been issued by Netanyahu’s office, and it remains unclear whether Wednesday’s departure […]
