Netanyahu at UN: 'We Will Win, We Have No Choice'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an aggressive speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, defending Israel's military operations since the October 7th attacks and launching sharp criticisms against Iran, Qatar, Turkey, and several Western leaders. His appearance was met with a divided reception, with supporters chanting "Am Israel Hai" while some delegations walked out, prompting the session's president to call for order.

Netanyahu began by focusing on the Iranian threat and its nuclear program, stating that the decision to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities was "one of the easiest decisions" he had made as prime minister, asserting, "If I hadn't done it, we would be dead." He accused diplomats who left the hall of "stunning hypocrisy," arguing that Israel had also protected their countries from the Iranian threat. He then criticized the UK and France for accusing Israel of colonialism, contrasting their actions with their own colonial past. He also addressed Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa regarding Israeli forces in the buffer zone, asserting that the Golan Heights were historically Jewish.

Recalling his brother Yoni Netanyahu, who died during the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation, the Prime Minister stated, "Yoni's words are as true today as they were half a century ago. We will win. We have no other choice." He described the October 7th attack as "the darkest day in Israel's history" and highlighted Israel's resilience and fight against its enemies, praising Israeli soldiers and mentioning strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as operations against Iran's military and nuclear capabilities.

Addressing settler violence in the West Bank, Netanyahu dismissed international media focus on a "handful of young delinquents," stating he had tasked the Shin Bet with acting against perpetrators of revenge attacks. He directly challenged French President Emmanuel Macron's assertion that Hamas would not operate in the West Bank, noting a recent French citizen's death there and the severe injury of Neria Leiter, son of Israel's ambassador to the US, in a car-ramming attack.

Netanyahu thanked former US President Donald Trump for his "courageous leadership" and praised the IDF as "the most moral army in the world," including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze soldiers. He accused Qatar of spending billions to spread lies against Israel, influencing American universities and media like Al Jazeera to foster hatred towards Israel, America, and the West. He also criticized Turkey for hosting Hamas and spreading hostile propaganda, directly addressing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding Cyprus, Greece, and journalists' imprisonment, stating, "No sir, you will not lead it. It is our city" in reference to Jerusalem.

He rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza as "the biggest lie of the century," citing the entry of aid and Israel's measures to protect civilians. Netanyahu also targeted New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of supporting Hamas and antisemitism, while Mamdani called for Netanyahu's arrest based on an ICC warrant. Netanyahu concluded by reiterating his brother's words, "We have no other choice," and wished the assembly happy holidays.