Netanyahu Arrives at UN, Responds to 'House of Lies' Question

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Thursday ahead of his address to the General Assembly. Upon his arrival, he was asked by a reporter how it felt to "arrive at the house of lies," to which Netanyahu responded, "An opportunity to tell the truth."

Netanyahu has previously recounted a personal encounter with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in 1984 when he served as Israel's ambassador to the UN. The Rebbe reportedly called the UN the "eternal house of lies" and urged Netanyahu to "light a candle of truth" in the "dark place."

The Prime Minister's visit to New York is exceptionally brief, lasting only a few hours. The schedule does not currently include significant meetings, a departure from previous visits. According to Netanyahu's office, the condensed itinerary is due to security concerns and the need to return before the Sukkot holiday. Despite the short duration, Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, and Ethiopia, as well as the vice president of Colombia and the prime ministers of Greece, Slovenia, and Papua New Guinea.

Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly is expected to focus on Iran's nuclear program and missile capabilities, with the Prime Minister reportedly planning to reveal new information on these topics. He is also expected to address the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams. Earlier, Netanyahu released a video stating his mission was to defend Israel and its soldiers against what he called "terrible things" and "lies" being disseminated at the UN, promising to "fight for the truth."