Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Netanyahu said, “Giving Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7 is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11. This is sheer madness. It is insane, and we won’t do it.”
#WATCH | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at United Nations
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025
He says, "…Giving Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7 is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11. This is sheer madness. It is insane, and we won't do… pic.twitter.com/b0KZF9wfoS
As Netanyahu took the stage, several delegates walked out in protest. Setting the tone for what was expected to be a combative speech, he began by addressing “the families of our dear hostages languishing in the dungeons of Gaza.”
In a familiar move seen in past UNGA appearances, Netanyahu held up a map which he said illustrated “Iran’s terror axis.” He then went on to outline Israeli operations across the region, including targeted strikes and assassinations, and claimed Israel had reshaped the Middle East.
Referring to a recent operation in Lebanon, Netanyahu remarked, “You remember those beepers, the pagers, we paged Hezbollah, and believe me, they got the message.”
The Israeli leader, who faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes, spoke of the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, senior Hamas operatives, Houthi leaders and Iranian scientists. He also took credit for the downfall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, though he did not refer to the rebel offensive that led to Assad’s fall.
Netanyahu’s arrival in New York drew demonstrations backing Palestine as he prepared to deliver his address at the annual debate. Alongside him, Friday’s line-up of speakers at UNGA 80 included leaders from Pakistan, China, Ireland and Greece.
