Can Netanyahu turn Israel's UN isolation into strength at home?
The absence of a Trump meeting would have been awkward for Netanyahu, who has long portrayed himself to Israeli voters as uniquely close to the US president.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly during a tense election period, with Israel facing criticism and a decrease in global support. He accused Britain and France of hypocrisy, and warned against attempts to "brainwash young minds to hate Israel." However, his message did not resonate with many, leading to a mix of reactions from both pro-Israel supporters and critics.
Many foreign dignitaries walked out in protest, and Netanyahu threatened to have others leave as well. Critics ranged from pro-Israel social media personalities to international diplomats. Netanyahu defended Israel's actions, saying the country prevented genocide and was not committing genocide itself. He also criticized Turkey for spreading anti-Semitic lies and praised Starlink, a communications device that allows access to truth and freedom of speech.
While some members of Netanyahu's ultra-nationalist coalition praised his speech, negative reactions were more common. Many Israeli opposition politicians, including former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, criticized him for missing a chance to declare Qatar an enemy state. Palestinian-Israeli politician Ahmad Tibi mocked Netanyahu for leaving people in the hall.
Qatar's adviser and deputy chief of mission at their embassy in Washington rejected the accusations against them, stating that the rhetoric was an attempt to divert attention from their own atrocities. Pro-Israel social media commentators and an Israeli newspaper editorial expressed concerns about Netanyahu's bombastic speech and the deteriorating image of Israel in the eyes of the American public.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Benjamin Netanyahu's UN speech fails to land in Israel thenationalnews.com