Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly with a warning that Iran remains the gravest danger to Israel and to the world. “Iran was rapidly developing a missile program, intended to destroy Israel, the US and blackmail nations everywhere,” he said. “Sinwar sent terrorists to invade Israel and commit atrocities, while thousands of missiles were fired at our country. In Yemen Houthis fired missiles.”
He declared that the situation has drastically changed over the past year. “So what’s happened since last year, we have mostly overcome all those threats – Houthis, Hezbollah and thousands of terrorists were killed, mainly we devastated Iran’s nuclear program,” he explained.
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Netanyahu listed the setbacks suffered by Tehran’s network of proxies. “So here’s where things stand today. Half the Houthi leadership gone. Hezbollah, gone. Millitias in Iraq, gone. Iran’s top military commanders, gone too,” he said.
He reminded the world of Israel’s most recent military campaign. “Israel’s 12 day war with Iran has gone down in history. Between Israeli and US pilots, we have taken Iran down. I would like to thank President Trump for our cooperation on this. We made a promise, and delivered on this promise. We lifted a dark cloud that risked millions and millions of lives. But we must not allow Iran to rebuild its capabilities.”
The prime minister praised Israel’s resilience. “Thanks to the resolve of our people, the resolve of our soldiers, Israel experienced one of the most stunning comebacks in history. But we’re not done yet. The final remnants of Hamas still hide in Gaza City and vow to repeat October 7th, which much of the world does not remember. But we remember that day!”
He recounted the horrific events of that day. “On October 7th Hamas carried out the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, including US citizens. They beheaded men, burned babies alive in front of their parents. They took hostages, which include grandparents and grandchildren, brothers – deprived of daylight, deprived of humanity.”
Netanyahu sent a message of encouragement to the captives. Speaking into giant loudspeakers placed outside Gaza, he said, “Our brave heroes, this is PM Netanyahu, speaking from the UN. We have not forgotten you. We will not rest until we have brought all of you home.”
He issued an ultimatum to Hamas. “I call on Hamas: lay down your weapons. Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t Israel will hunt you down. If Hamas puts down their weapons and releases the hostages, the war will be over now. The war in Gaza has affected every Israeli. I am sure that people around the world are wondering what this has got to do with them – it has got to do with each and everyone of you.”
He explained why the conflict matters globally. “My point is that our enemies hate all of us, with equal venom. I think that all of you know that Israel is fighting your fight. So I’ll tell you a secret – all of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us for saving countless lives.”
He said that world leaders know the truth even if they don’t admit it openly. “The Chancellor of Germany admitted that Israel is doing the dirty work for all of us. Regrettably many leaders who are represented in this hall send a different message. Many supported Israel in the past, but things have changed. And that is that we fought back. Imagine a terrorist regime that invades the US, murders tens of thousands of American citizens and takes thousands hostage. Would the US sit back and accept this? Never. We are doing what every self-respecting government would do.”
Netanyahu criticized governments that have shifted under pressure. “Many world leaders have buckled under the pressure of political pressure, media pressure and more. The saying says that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.’ And that is what Israel is doing. As we fight the terrorists who murdered many of your citizens, you wage war against us. This is not an indictment of Israel; this is an indictment of you. When will you learn that you have to stand with Israel, but that is not what you are doing. You have turned good into evil, and evil into good.”
He defended Israel’s military conduct. “It has been proven that Israel is taking extreme measures to prevent civilian casualties, more than any other country, especially considering the density of the Gaza population. We have repeatedly warned Gaza civilians to leave areas before Israel attacks, but Hamas has threatened them, some at gun point, not to leave. Hamas uses civilians as human shields.”
He rejected accusations of genocide. “Would a country committing genocide plead with a population to get out of harm’s way? Did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave before they annihilated them? Of course not. So the truth has been turned on its head. Hamas’ charter calls for the murder of all Jews on the planet, while Israel does the opposite, and we are put in the dark.”
He also denied charges of deliberately starving the population. “Israel is accused of deliberately starving the population of Gaza, but we have sent tons of food to Gaza, enough for each citizen. The reason that they are not getting the food is that Hamas has been looting it – 85% of the trucks. That is why there is deprivation.”
Netanyahu then turned to the rise in antisemitic violence. “In recent months Jews have been assaulted in many countries around the world. An elderly Holocaust survivor was burned here in the US, a young Jewish couple was gunned down outside the Holocaust museum. Instead of condemning these acts, many give them rewards – recognizing a Palestinian state. Nearly 90% of Palestinians supported the October 7th attack, they celebrated, they threw candies, just the way they celebrated another horror – 9/11. And the message they get is ‘murdering Jews pays off.'”
He blasted governments moving toward recognition of a Palestinian state. “So I have a message – when you support their actions – this is a mark of shame on all of you. You support a Palestinian state next to Israel, but the problem is that they don’t agree with that – they want a Palestinian state instead of Israel. Every time they were offered a state, they only attacked us again.”
He condemned the Palestinian Authority as well. “I don’t understand how the world does not see this, even though it is repeated again and again. You should know that the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists to slay Jews – it names its public buildings, its schools after the mass murderers of both Jews and Christians.”
He said their promises of reform are meaningless. “Many world leaders say that the PA promised it would reform, but we have heard these promises for decades. They use the same text books as Hamas, they teach their children to murder Jews. When Bethlehem was under Israeli control 80% were Christians, a number that has dwindled to 20%. Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York.”
Netanyahu made Israel’s position clear. “We will not allow the establishment of a terrorist state just because you don’t have the guts to recognize this situation. I say, on behalf of myself and all the residents of the State of Israel, that over 90% voted against a Palestinian state.”
He emphasized that Israel stands firm even if others do not. “Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure, but Israel won’t. Israel’s victories over the terror axis, have opened opportunities in the area. We have opened negotiations with Syria that we believe will protect minorities in the region.”
He added that peace with Lebanon could also be within reach. “Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the leadership of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and I am sure that we can achieve a sustainable peace. But until that happens we will take whatever measures are needed to protect ourselves. I’m sure that if the Lebanese government persists in this goal, peace will come between the two countries.”
He pointed to future cooperation with Arab states. “Forward looking Arabs and leaders know that cooperation with Israel will lead to many good outcomes, in medicine, agriculture, and more. Many of those who waged war on Israel today, will be gone tomorrow. The long suffering Iranian people will once again be great and we will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.”
He concluded by recalling Jewish history and the resilience of Israel. “The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, have happened many times over the generations, but then we had to beg others to defend us. Now Israel is fighting back itself. Our sons and daughters fought like lions, fulfilling the dream of generations who came before them; the dream of having an army to defend us. Today the resolve of Israel burns brighter than before, leading to prosperity and peace.”
{Matzav.com}
