ALBAWABA- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced boos and a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as dozens of delegations left the hall before and during his speech, leaving large sections of the chamber empty.
As Netanyahu approached the podium, several delegations walked out in protest. He responded by calling those who left “moral cowards” and invited others to follow them. “If there are any other moral cowards who have not yet left the hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu devoted much of his address to Iran, saying Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had prevented what he described as an existential threat. He said the decision to strike was among the easiest decisions he had made and thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he called Israel’s “greatest partner,” for confronting the threat.
Netanyahu also claimed that leaders of some countries whose delegations had left the chamber had privately thanked Israel for its actions against Iran. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons, while the International Atomic Energy Agency has said it has not found evidence that Iran had developed a nuclear weapon.
On the Golan Heights, Netanyahu invoked historical Jewish ties to the territory and told Syria’s president that Jews had lived there since the time of Moses. He also rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza as “the biggest lie of the century” and defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its presence in the occupied West Bank on security grounds.
His address came amid continued international criticism of Israel over its crimes in the Gaza war and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The UN General Assembly has seen repeated calls for an end to the fighting and for adherence to international law.
Netanyahu’s visit to New York was notably brief. Israeli officials said he was expected to remain in the United States for less than eight hours before returning to Israel. His office said he would meet nine world leaders, including five from Latin America, but did not announce a meeting with Trump or other U.S. officials.
The short visit contrasts with Netanyahu’s week-long trip to the United States last year, which included a meeting with Trump. The absence of a scheduled meeting with the U.S. president comes as the two governments navigate differences over regional policy and amid Israel’s upcoming October election.