Netanyahu's Fiery UN Speech Sees Walkouts, Attacks Iran, Qatar, Turkey

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a fiery address to the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, facing a mass walkout by dozens of diplomats and international delegates just before he took the podium. Netanyahu responded by calling the departing delegates "cowards" and urged those remaining to leave, asserting that "Israel, in defending itself, is also defending the countries of those who left."

Netanyahu opened his speech by focusing on regional military confrontation, stating that Israel had been fighting a war on seven fronts for three years. He described the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities as a "necessary decision" for Israel's survival, adding, "If we had not destroyed the Iranian nuclear facilities, we would all be dead." He praised U.S. President Donald Trump as "the greatest partner who boldly confronted a grave threat to the world."

During his address, Netanyahu displayed a pager, referencing strikes against Hezbollah and Hamas. He also showed a Starlink satellite communication device, offering it to the Iranian delegation to "reveal the truth and express their opinions on social media platforms in case they defect," predicting the imminent fall of the Iranian regime.

Addressing the Syrian file, Netanyahu responded to Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shar's demand for Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights by stating, "I tell Mr. Al-Shar that Jews have been present in the Golan Heights since the time of Moses, and you can read that in the Torah," considering Israeli control of the area an existential and historical matter.

Netanyahu escalated his rhetoric against Qatar and Turkey, accusing Doha of "spending billions to fund American universities and media outlets that promoted lies and brainwashed youth, in addition to hosting Hamas leaders." He also attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, calling him a "tyrant who hosts Hamas elements and killed thousands of Kurds."

Netanyahu's criticisms extended to Britain and France over accusations of Israeli "colonialism," telling them, "Enough lies, you invented this term and colonized the world." He also criticized international media coverage and directly attacked New York Mayor Zahran Mamdani, stating he "will not be able to silence him," and alleging that current policies made the Jewish community feel threatened.