Diplomats walk out as Benjamin Netanyahu calls the UN an ‘anti-Semitic swamp’ in fiery speech

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his speech before the UN General Assembly to portray the body as an “anti-Semitic swamp,” to warn Iran not to attack his country and to send mixed signals on whether a ceasefire -fire was possible.

As fighting intensified in the Middle East, Netanyahu took to the lectern to address a nearly empty room. Many diplomats walked out in protest as he entered the main hall to speak from the podium.

When Netanyahu took the stage, there was such a commotion among the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout, “Order please.”

Visibly angry during his remarks, Netanyahu almost shouted from the lectern as he criticized the UN for passing resolutions against Israel, accusing the governing body of a double standard.

‘What hypocrisy, what a double standard, what a joke. So the UN is so stupid. All the speeches you have heard today, all the hostility against Israel this year – it is not about Gaza. It’s about Israel,” he said.

“It was always about Israel, about the existence of Israel and I say: until Israel, until the Jewish state, is treated like other nations, until this anti-Semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be viewed by honest people everywhere . as nothing more than a contemptuous farce.’

As he spoke, Israel struck Hezbollah’s central headquarters under residential buildings in Beirut as it continued its attacks on Hezbollah.

Netanyahu used his comments to defend his country’s response to Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.

“Israel has every right to eliminate this threat and return our citizens safely home. And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said.

“We will not rest until the remaining hostages are brought home.”

According to the Health Ministry, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and injured more than 96,000 others.

Netanyahu’s fiery speech was full of dire warnings that more battles could follow.

“I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran: if you hit us, we will hit you. There is no place in Iran that Israel’s long arm cannot reach, and that applies to the entire Middle East,” he said.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have increased since Israel attacked the Iranian embassy in Damascus and assassinated Hamas’s political leader in Tehran. Iranian officials have said Iran reserves the right to retaliate at a time and place of its choosing.

The war in the Middle East was one of the main topics of discussion as world leaders gathered in New York City for the annual UN meeting.

Leaders call for an end to fighting in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. And many leaders, including President Joe Biden, used their speeches to reiterate calls for a ceasefire.

However, Netanyahu appeared to pour cold water on the idea, saying his army would continue to attack Hezbollah militants in Lebanon with “all our might.”

“We are at war with Hezbollah,” he said. “As long as Hezbollah chooses the war path, Israel has no choice. And Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens safely to their homes.”

Security personnel talk to attendees as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the United Nations

Netanyahu addressed a nearly empty room, as many delegates walked out in protest

He made no mention of a ceasefire agreement, including this week’s call from the US and France for a three-week ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

However, he did say he wanted peace, he just made no mention of conditions.

“This is the truth,” Netanyahu said. Israel seeks peace. Israel longs for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again.”

The Israeli leader also said that he almost didn’t come to New York for the annual meeting, but “after hearing the lies and slanders expressed by my country by many of the speakers on this stage, I decided to come here and set the record straight.” to put right. .’