Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended strikes targeting Iran and its nuclear facilities before the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, saying they had been necessary to protect Israel, while delegations left the chamber as his speech began amid international divisions over his government’s policies and the wars in the region.
If we had not struck Iran, we would be among the dead
The war with Iran topped the agenda at this year’s General Assembly, alongside the US-Iran confrontation, its regional repercussions and its impact on energy supplies. The delegations’ departure from the chamber coincided with the start of Netanyahu’s speech, reflecting the depth of international disagreements surrounding Israeli policies and the ongoing wars in the Middle East.
Netanyahu attacks media and New York mayor
Netanyahu attacked international media coverage of his government’s policies and the military operations carried out by Israel, accusing global media outlets critical of him of “distorting public awareness”. He also broadened his criticism to include New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, telling him: “You will not be able to silence me”.
The Israeli prime minister claimed that Jews in New York had become “threatened” after Mamdani took office, directly criticising the mayor and his policies. He also accused European leaders of having “fallen victim to anti-Semitic gangs”, as he put it, linking this to European positions critical of his government’s approach.
Dispute with France and Britain escalates
Netanyahu directed particular criticism at France and Britain, saying: “Enough lies; you colonised the world.” His remarks came amid an escalating dispute between his government and several European countries over Israeli policies and the Palestinian issue. During his speech, Netanyahu shifted from the Iranian file to Syria, saying Damascus must understand that the Golan Heights “belongs to Israel”.
This position conflicts with the territory’s international legal status, as the United Nations considers the Golan Heights to be Syrian land under Israeli control. The speech came during a General Assembly session dominated by Middle Eastern crises, from the war with Iran to developments in Gaza and Yemen.
The Golan Heights and Middle East crises in the speech
At the opening of the meetings, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had called for reliance on international co-operation rather than believing that military force alone could achieve peace. The confrontation with Tehran in recent months has seen Israeli and US strikes inside Iran, followed by Iranian responses targeting Israel and interests and facilities in the region.
The escalation coincided with disruptions affecting shipping and energy supplies, while Tehran continued to affirm that its nuclear programme was intended for peaceful purposes. Netanyahu’s remarks came two days after US President Donald Trump defended the decision to go to war against Iran in a speech before the General Assembly. At the same time, Trump expressed a willingness to return to negotiations with Tehran.
Netanyahu focused on portraying the strikes against Iran as a security necessity for Israel, but broadened his speech to cover the Golan Heights, relations with France and Britain and other European leaders, as well as his dispute with the New York mayor and his criticism of the international media, amid divisions within the General Assembly over his government’s policies and the continuing wars in the region.
