Netanyahu's UN Speech Sparks Fierce Debate Among Israeli Politicians

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the United Nations General Assembly has ignited a sharp divide among Israeli political figures, with opposition leaders heavily criticizing the speech while coalition members offered strong support. The remarks, delivered just 33 days before elections, focused significantly on Qatar's role.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused Netanyahu of missing a "historic opportunity" to declare Qatar an enemy and expose its alleged involvement in the October 7th massacre. Bennett argued that Netanyahu's failure to name Qatar as an adversary "whitewashes and legitimizes" the nation, harming national security, Israel's global standing, and the memory of the victims. He asserted that without Qatar, Hamas would not exist and criticized Netanyahu for giving Qatar control over Gaza, hindering Israel's ability to defeat Hamas.

Other opposition figures also targeted the Qatar aspect. Yair Golan sarcastically questioned Netanyahu's accusations against Qatar, hinting at alleged involvement of Netanyahu's advisors in the "Qatar-gate" affair. MK Ahmad Tibi commented on delegations leaving the hall before the speech, calling it "another international achievement" for Netanyahu.

In contrast, coalition members lauded the speech. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called it a "brilliant speech" that presented Israel's truth at the "house of lies" of the UN, asserting Netanyahu possesses unique international capabilities. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that "all of Israel stands behind you against the world's lies." Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri echoed these sentiments, praising Netanyahu for a "strong and proud" speech that defended Israel's truth and its soldiers. Likud Minister Miki Zohar added that Netanyahu exposed the hypocrisy of world leaders and reflected Israel's determination.