Netanyahu plans to join world leaders at UN General Assembly

Initial lineup of speakers at September summit includes Obama, Rouhani and Putin; Iran deal expected to be key topic

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, September 29, 2014. (AP/John Minchillo)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters, September 29, 2014. (AP/John Minchillo)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to speak at the UN General Assembly in September, sources in Jerusalem said Monday.

The presidents of China, Russia, Iran and the United States are scheduled to speak at the 70th annual UN General Assembly of world leaders — a rare appearance for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the first for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The United Nations issued its first draft list of speakers Monday for what could be its largest-ever gathering of world leaders.

Pope Francis is also set to address the General Assembly a few days before President Barack Obama, Putin, Xi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speak at the gathering.

Netanyahu’s speech will likely focus on the nuclear deal brokered between world powers and Iran earlier this month, which he has lobbied against.

The General Assembly, in mid-September, will fall just as a deadline for a congressional review of the Iran deal comes up. Jerusalem has been counting on US lawmakers to vote down the deal as a last-ditch bid to quash the measure.

Other leaders are also expected to address the accord at the world confab.

Two years ago, a historic phone call between Obama and Rouhani during the UN meeting prompted speculation of a rapprochement between the nations and resulted in an interim nuclear pact that was followed by the landmark nuclear deal announced this month.

The list of speakers is expected to change several times before the high-level ministerial meeting begins September 28, but so far countries not sending a head of state include India, Britain, Syria, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.

Other countries sending heads of state include France, Mexico, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Egypt, Venezuela, South Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Iraq.

The Palestinians are listed as sending Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

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