Netanyahu Addresses UN, Slams Critics and Defends Israel's Actions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, facing a walkout by dozens of delegates and shouts of "Am Yisrael Chai" (The People of Israel Live) as he took the podium. Responding to the departure, Netanyahu remarked, "If there are any more cowards who want to leave, let them leave now." Outside the UN headquarters, two demonstrations, one anti-Israel and one pro-Israel, took place before his address.

Netanyahu's speech invoked historical parallels, including the death of his brother Yoni Netanyahu during the Entebbe operation. He reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, stating that striking Iran's nuclear program was difficult but necessary for Israel's survival. He asserted that by defending itself, Israel also defends many nations whose delegates walked out, noting that some leaders privately thanked Israel for curbing Iran's nuclear capabilities.

He drew parallels between Israel's current situation and the existential threats it faced before the 1967 Six-Day War, questioning accusations of colonialism against Israel given its small size compared to the Arab world. Netanyahu then addressed the October 7th attacks, describing them as the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, with Hamas terrorists committing atrocities including murder, burning babies, and raping women. He stated that 1,200 Israelis were killed, a number proportionally equivalent to 40,000 Americans, and emphasized that Israel, with its allies, has struck Hamas and Hezbollah.

Netanyahu also criticized the international media's coverage, accusing it of downplaying Palestinian terror while focusing on minor incidents, and highlighted the "war for truth" being waged on social media. He specifically targeted Qatar and Turkey for allegedly spreading lies and supporting Hamas, calling Turkish President Erdogan a "tyrant." He defended Israel's conduct in Gaza, stating that Hamas uses civilians as human shields and that Israel has taken extensive measures to warn civilians and provide humanitarian aid, calling accusations of genocide against Israel "the greatest lie of this century."

Concluding his remarks, Netanyahu addressed the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, accusing him of making Jews feel unsafe in the city and of failing to condemn Hamas sympathizers. He criticized Adams' wife for liking posts that praised the October 7th massacre and questioned Adams' attempts to prevent his visit, vowing not to be silenced.