For years, critics of Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that Israel’s unresolved conflict with Palestinians would inevitably trigger a ‘diplomatic tsunami.’ This ominous prediction felt starkly real and overwhelmingly present as the Israeli prime minister stepped onto the United Nations stage in New York on Friday.
Just last week, several major nations – Australia, Britain, Canada, France, and Portugal – announced their recognition of a Palestinian state. This significant move, vehemently opposed by Israel and a development the previous Trump administration had unsuccessfully worked to prevent, came amid widespread international condemnation of Israel’s actions in the Gaza war.
Even earlier, on the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Accords, Israel’s Arab allies chose not to commemorate the occasion. Instead, they convened to criticize Israel’s failed operation to assassinate high-ranking Hamas negotiators in Doha, Qatar.
The repercussions of the Gaza conflict, sparked by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023, are now deeply affecting daily life in Israel. European countries are implementing or threatening new economic sanctions, while arms embargos hinder Israel’s efforts to resupply its military. Abroad, Israeli tourists encounter protests and harassment, and even its sports teams face potential exclusion from international competitions.
Despite this growing isolation, the Israeli leader understands he has a staunch ally in former President Trump. Consequently, a visibly unyielding Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly, speaking to a largely empty hall after numerous delegates staged walkouts in disapproval.
He publicly chastised nations whose initial support for Israel following the October 7th, 2023, massacre, he claimed, ‘collapsed under the weight of partisan media, extremist Islamist groups, and antisemitic agitation.’
His blunt assessment: ‘When challenges arose, you surrendered.’
Netanyahu fiercely condemned countries employing economic, political, or legal tactics against Israel. He argued that these actions were not a condemnation of Israel itself, but rather a testament to ‘cowardly leaders who appease malevolence instead of backing a nation whose courageous soldiers protect you from the barbarians at the gates.’
He also expressed bitter disappointment, asserting that the swift recognition of Palestinian statehood conveyed a dangerous message to Palestinians: ‘The murder of Jews brings rewards.’
This defiant stance is typical for Netanyahu during his UN addresses. In Israel, these speeches are widely understood as being primarily crafted for his domestic political base, rather than the global community, even if delivered in English thousands of miles from home.
Eli Groner, a former director general of the prime minister’s office, observed, ‘The international isolation is undeniable, but Netanyahu believes his political supporters at home value defiance over compromise. He leverages global criticism as evidence to Israelis that he alone refuses to yield.’