Sa’ar rejects claim of global consensus against Israel, says UN majority cannot dictate policy

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar addressed the UN General Assembly, asserting Israel's ongoing diplomatic minority status at the United Nations. He emphasized that Israel has been in a minority position at the UN for decades, stretching back to multiple past decades. Sa'ar highlighted the UN's recent session, where numerous world leaders criticized Israel's policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

He questioned the rationale behind basing policy decisions on international consensus or majority view, advocating instead for a focus on Israel's own existential interests.

Sa'ar argued that Israel's previous concessions, such as the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority, and the 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, have not yielded the anticipated diplomatic rewards. He contended that Israel has received no lasting credit for these actions, emphasizing that the international system did not benefit from these concessions.

The foreign minister underscored that Israel has reached a point where it can no longer make further concessions based solely on international pressure. He maintained that Israel cannot continue to concede territory or rights merely to appease international opinion.

Several countries are pushing for Palestinian statehood at the UN, with a joint statement from Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reaffirming support for a "sovereign, viable, and independent Palestinian State." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among the leaders who criticized Israel, with Sa'ar noting that Erdogan's policies towards Israel are hostile, particularly in diplomatic, economic, and legal spheres.

He pointed out that Turkey's relationships with Hamas and its rhetoric towards Israel have worsened significantly under Erdogan's leadership.

Sa'ar criticized Turkey for issuing comments that he deemed a "clear call for genocide" and compared Jordan's statements at the General Assembly to Israel's own criticisms of Jordanian moralizing. He dismissed Jordan's accusations as "moralizing," citing Jordan's 1988 decision to revoke Jordanian citizenship for West Bank residents, which Sa'ar argued contravened international law and should be considered when evaluating Jordanian criticisms of Israel.