Israeli PM Netanyahu begins speech at UN General Assembly
Netanyahu has just taken the world’s stage at the UN General Assembly in New York City. Dozens of people left the room as he took the podium. Others greeted him with applause.
What did Netanyahu say in his UNGA speech?
Here are a few takeaways:
- Netanyahu started listing Israel’s regional attacks and assassinations conducted over the past two years, claiming he has reshaped the Middle East. He mentioned targeting Hezbollah’s leaders, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas leaders and Iranian scientists.
- The prime minister then made an address directly to the captives in Gaza – after the Israeli army set up speakers along the Gaza fence to blast his speech – saying “we will not rest until we bring all of you home”.
- Netanyahu credited Israeli and US forces for crippling Iran’s military capabilities during a 12-day war in June that killed and wounded thousands of people, including many civilians.
- He promised to continue fighting Hamas in Gaza: “We are not done yet”.
- Netanyahu also said that while countries publicly condemn Israel, they “privately thank us”.
- He once again rejected a UN inquiry that said Israel is committing genocide and denied that Israel is causing starvation inside the Strip.
- The decision by world leaders to recognise a Palestinian state, including France and the UK, sent “a very clear message that murdering Jews pays off”, he said.
Netanyahu’s speech at UN highlights widening gap between Israel and world
The mass departure of delegates at the UN General Assembly as Netanyahu took the floor highlights the widening gap between Israel and the international community, says Alon Liel, a former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
“It was heartbreaking to see how isolated Israelis are internationally … it showed the huge gap between Israel and the rest of the world and between the Jewish world and the rest of the world. So it was a very difficult scene to watch,” Liel told Al Jazeera.
According to Liel, Netanyahu wanted to deliver the clear message that Israel is not interested in peace with the Palestinians.
“But this is the biggest mistake that he makes because the consensus today behind a Palestinian state is growing, and there is international determination behind it, so it is only stressing how far away we are from the international community."
