Netanyahu to Meet with President Obama in New York

JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, left Tuesday morning for a five-day visit to the States, which includes meetings the U.S. president and other heads of state.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu will meet with President Barack Obama in New York to thank him personally for the U.S.-Israeli defense aid package signed last week.

"The agreement expresses the depth of strategic relations and the alliance between Israel and the U.S.," the Prime Minister's Office stated on its website, adding that he also intends to discuss the "challenges and opportunities in the Middle East and the way to jointly advance peace and security."

On Thursday, Netanyahu will address the U.N. General Assembly and meet with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

While at the United Nations, he will view a painting exhibit by fallen Givati Brigade soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was killed – along with two other soldiers – by a suicide bomber as they decommissioned a Hamas smuggling tunnel near the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip in August 2014.

Netanyahu will also meet with several African heads of state and attend an event depicting the use of Israeli technologies in their countries. This past July, Netanyahu met with leaders of seven African countries to strengthen ties with Israel.

He will also hold meetings with several heads of state from around the world.