Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel used his speech before the UN General Assembly to rail against the body as an ‘anti-semitic swamp,’ to warn Iran not to attack his country and to give mixed signals on whether a ceasefire deal was possible.
As the fighting increased in the Middle East, Netanyahu took to the lectern to address a nearly empty chamber. Many diplomats walked out in protest as he entered the great hall to speak from the rostrum.
As Netanyahu took the stage, there was enough ruckus in the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout, ‘Order, please.’
Visibly angry during his remarks, Netanyahu almost shouted from the lectern as he slammed the UN for passing resolutions against Israel, accusing the governing body of a double standard.
‘What hypocrisy, what a double standard, what a joke. So the UN’s so silly. 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’s always been about Israel, about Israel’s very existence and I say to, until Israel, until the Jewish state, is treated like other nations, until this anti-semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be viewed by fair-minded people everywhere as nothing more than a contemptuous farce.’
As he spoke, Israel struck Hezbollah’s central 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 remarks to defend his nation’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.
‘Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. 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 wounded more than 96,000 others, according to the Health Ministry.
Netanyahu’s fiery speech was full of dire warnings that there could be more battles to come.
‘I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: if you strike us we will strike you. There is no place no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that’s true of the entire Middle East,’ he said.
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Tensions between Israel and Iran have been on the rise since Israel attacked on Iran 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 their time and place of 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 for the fighting in the Gaza Strip and in Lebanon to end. And many leaders, including President Joe Biden, used their speeches to reiterate calls for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu, however, seemed to pour cold water on the idea, saying his military would keep striking Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with ‘all our might.’
‘We’re 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 remove this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely.’
Security personnel talk 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 made no mention of any ceasefire deal, including the call this week from the U.S. and France for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
He did, however, say he wanted peace, he just made no mention of terms.
‘Here’s the truth,’ Netanyahu said. ‘Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again.’
The Israeli leader also said he nearly didn’t come to New York for the annual meeting but ‘after I heard the lies and slanders level that my country, by many of the speakers at this podium I decided to come here and set the record straight.’