Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded Israel’s case at the United Nations General Assembly before an audience of mostly empty seats amid increasing global isolation. During his speech, he brandished a pager while reminding the small gathering about Israel’s September 2024 operation against Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon.
Netanyahu had especially harsh language on Iran, calling it a “murderous dictatorship.
Netanyahu said that “in the last three years,” Israeli soldiers have “fought a war on seven fronts. “Do you know of any other country the size of New Jersey that can fight for three years on seven fronts?” he said. He said the war in which Israeli and US forces have attacked Iran for close to seven months had stopped Tehran from being able to develop nuclear weapons. “I vowed to prevent Iran’s murderous dictatorship from developing atomic bombs, nuclear weapons aimed at destroying Israel, nuclear weapons that could threaten the entire world,” he said. He said the fall of Iran’s leadership, whose UN envoy displayed a portrait of dead Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani on their vacant desk, was not “far.”
Earlier reporting noted: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held up a pager during his address to the UN General Assembly on Thursday as he defended Israel’s military operations against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, while dozens of delegates walked out of the hall as he began speaking. Despite the onslaught, Iran’s government has retained control and continues to defy the United States by effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz. “You remember the beepers? UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman repeatedly called for order.
Well, I can tell you this, Hezbollah certainly remembers them,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu said.
Earlier reporting noted: The speech was repeatedly disrupted by the departure of delegates, with many seats left empty as Netanyahu took the podium.
