Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful defense of Israel's actions in the region during a speech at the United Nations on Thursday. The address came as Netanyahu faces growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose. With general elections less than five weeks away, Netanyahu's speech was seen as a campaign-style address. He spoke for about 40 minutes, and it was broadcast live in evening prime time on all four of the main Israeli television channels.
The speech was marked by controversy, as dozens of delegates walked out in protest as Netanyahu began speaking. The walkout underscored the divisions over Israel's conduct in the region. Netanyahu responded by calling the delegates "moral cowards." Meanwhile, supporters in the gallery showed their support, chanting in Hebrew: "The people of Israel live." The incident highlighted the competing pressures facing Netanyahu, who is battling mounting criticism abroad over the Gaza war while campaigning for reelection at home.
Netanyahu used his address to criticize several individuals and countries. He berated New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for calling him a war criminal and accused Western European leaders of succumbing to "antisemitic mobs." He also targeted Qatar and Turkey, accusing them of spreading lies about Israel. Mamdani had campaigned for office on a promise to have Netanyahu arrested for alleged war crimes should he visit the largest US city.
Mamdani later stated that he determined he lacked the legal authority to have Netanyahu arrested. This week, Mamdani described Netanyahu as "the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians." Netanyahu countered by saying, "Here's a simple truth: Israel didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide." He accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas militants, which Mamdani has denied.
Netanyahu's speech also drew criticism from Qatar and Turkey. Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the accusation that it was seeking to turn public opinion against Israel. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's communications director dismissed Netanyahu's accusations against Turkey and Erdogan as baseless. Burhanettin Duran said Netanyahu's remarks targeting Erdogan "cannot obscure his massacres, the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, or the legal proceedings before international law."
In response to Netanyahu's speech, Mamdani stated that Netanyahu "used his speech to repeat baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians." Mamdani also noted that Netanyahu remains the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu's speech was seen as an attempt to counter growing criticism of Israel's actions in the region.
Ahead of his speech, Netanyahu's government paid to place 500 pro-Israel and anti-Islamic State ads in major US cities. With his political future on the line, Netanyahu's address was seen as a critical moment in his campaign for reelection. The speech highlighted the challenges facing Netanyahu as he seeks to balance international pressure with domestic politics.
Key points
- Dozens of delegates walked out in protest as Netanyahu began speaking at the UN.
- Netanyahu accused Qatar and Turkey of spreading lies about Israel.
- Netanyahu's speech was seen as a campaign-style address, with his political future on the line ahead of elections.
