Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel used his speech to the UN General Assembly to criticize the body as an “anti-Semitic quagmire”, warn Iran not to attack his country and give conflicting signals about whether a ceasefire agreement was possible. fire.
As fighting escalated in the Middle East, Netanyahu took the podium to address a nearly empty chamber. Many diplomats left in protest when he entered the great hall to speak from the rostrum.
When Netanyahu took the stage, there was so much commotion in the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout: “Order, please.”
Visibly angry during his remarks, Netanyahu nearly shouted from the lectern as he criticized the UN for passing resolutions against Israel, accusing the ruling body of applying double standards.
‘What hypocrisy, what double standards, what a joke. So the UN is so stupid. All the speeches you heard today, all the hostility directed at Israel this year, it’s not about Gaza. It’s about Israel,’ he said.
“It has always been about Israel, about Israel’s very existence, and I say that until Israel, until the Jewish State is treated like other nations, until this anti-Semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be seen by impartial people in everywhere.” as nothing more than a contemptuous farce.
As he spoke, Israel attacked Hezbollah’s headquarters under residential buildings in Beirut as it continued its attacks on Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
Netanyahu used his comments to defend his nation’s response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
‘Israel has every right to eliminate this threat and return our citizens to their homes safe and sound. And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said.
“We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home.”
Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and injured more than 96,000, according to the Health Ministry.
Netanyahu’s fiery speech was filled with dire warnings that there could be more battles to come.
‘I have a message for the tyrants in Tehran: if they hit us, we will hit them. “There is nowhere in Iran that Israel’s long arm cannot reach and that applies to the entire Middle East,” he said.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have increased since Israel’s attack on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus and the assassination of Hamas’s political leader in Tehran. Iranian officials have said Iran reserves the right to retaliate at a time and place of its choosing.
The war in the Middle East was one of the main topics of conversation as world leaders gathered in New York City for the annual UN meeting.
Leaders are pushing to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. And many leaders, including President Joe Biden, used their speeches to reiterate calls for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu, however, appeared to pour cold water on the idea, saying his army would continue attacking Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with “all our forces.”
“We are at war with Hezbollah,” he said. ‘As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice. And Israel has every right to eliminate this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely.”
Security personnel speak to attendees as Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the United Nations.
Netanyahu addressed a nearly empty chamber as many delegates walked out in protest.
He did not mention any ceasefire agreements, including the call this week by the United States and France for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
However, he said he wanted peace, but did not mention the terms.
“This is the truth,” Netanyahu said. ‘Israel seeks peace. Israel longs for peace. “Israel has made peace and will make peace again.”
The Israeli leader also said that he almost did not come to New York for the annual meeting, but “after hearing the lies and slander that my country tells, from many of the speakers on this podium, I decided to come here and leave things clear.” .’