Taking a massive charm offensive, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to defend Israel’s actions in the region before dozens of delegates walked from the hall before and during his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 24.
In response to the walkout, Netanyahu harshly denounced the walkout participants and called them “moral cowards.” Supporters of the Israeli Prime Minister also chanted in Hebrew in support of Israel in the gallery.
In his speech, Netanyahu harshly condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a vocal international condemner of Israel who makes the charge of a “war criminal” against the Jewish state and has levelled a genocide accusation against Israel. Netanyahu responded to those charges, saying Israel had not committed genocide, but rather prevented genocide from happening.
Netanyahu also struck out at Western European leaders for giving in to “antisemitic mobs” and lectured Qatar and Turkey on their attempts to malign Israel over purportedly bogus allegations. He took advantage of the UN forum to justify Israel’s military actions and answer increased criticism from the international community regarding Israel’s actions in the area.
Previously, Mamdani had campaigned on a pledge to seek Netanyahu’s arrest in New York if he went there, based on an International Criminal Court warrant, but later admitted that he wasn’t legally entitled to arrest him. He has consistently been critical in public of Netanyahu’s government and activities related to the Palestinians.
Netanyahu’s UN visit coincided with growing international condemnations against Israel and before the country decides on new elections. The walkout and criticism of international opponents by him emphasized the diplomatic friction with regard to Israel’s military policies and the Gaza border crisis.