Netanyahu working on speech; mystery over props

The Prime Minister’s Office just sent out a picture of Netanyahu working on his speech. From what we can make out, Netanyahu will say he “feels a profound privilege to stand here representing the State of Israel.”

As in the last two years, Netanyahu is not expected to stick to words but may bring out a prop as well. Pundits have been wondering what he may utilize this time, with guesses ranging from a copy of Iranian President Hasan Rouhani’s book to this writer’s guess of a fully working centrifuge.

Times of Israel diplomatic correspondent Raphael Ahren, at the UN, reports that some journalists traveling with the prime minister to New York said they saw one of his staffers enter his hotel last night holding a huge piece of cardboard wrapped in a shopping bag.

The staffer refused to comment on what the cardboard will be used for, giving rise to the suspicion the PM might again present a drawing of sorts during his speech.

Netanyahu said before leaving Israel that “I will tell the truth in the face of the sweet-talk and the onslaught of smiles,” so perhaps his prop will have to do with combating smiles.