Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, saying it was all “gimmicks” and no clear policy.
“The world saw a tired and whining Israeli prime minister today, in a speech too loaded with tired gimmicks,” Lapid posted on X.
The premier delivered a speech on the fourth day of the General Debate at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, aggressively defending Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, while excoriating world leaders who have criticized Jerusalem and unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state in recent days.
Netanyahu returned to his customary use of props in his talks to the world body, bringing out a map of Iran and its proxies, proudly ticking off those who had been defeated and destroyed.
He also held up posters of two “pop quizzes” showing that Islamists are not just Israel’s enemy, but that of the Western world.
In addition, Netanyahu wore a pin with a QR code that he urged people to scan and see the atrocities carried out by Hamas.
Furthermore, Netanyahu had giant speakers set up around Gaza to broadcast his speech to the Palestinians and sent links of his speech to their phones. He also claimed he was trying to reach the hostages held by Hamas.
But Lapid said Netanyahu’s speech lacked substance.
“Netanyahu did not present a plan for the return of the hostages, did not present a way to end the war, did not explain why, after two years, Hamas has yet to be defeated,” the Yesh Atid leader said.
“Instead of stopping the political tsunami – Netanyahu today worsened the situation of the State of Israel,” he said.
Other opposition leaders were quick to criticize the speech, including Blue and White-National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, who both praised and critiqued the premier’s speech, writing in a post on X that he “described in a clear and concise manner the just and necessary war that we are waging for our security.”
However, he also noted that, “The main role of a prime minister is not to talk but to do. Not only to talk to the hostages but to ensure their return. Not only to talk about replacing Hamas, but to strive to create an alternative government. If we initiate proposals, if we share them with our friends in the international community, if we also act in the political arena, we will also be able to harness the world, and not just criticize it.”
Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman called it a partisan speech that did not represent all Israelis.
“A speech by a party leader – not by everyone’s prime minister,” said Liberman. “The important sentence – stopping the war in exchange for the release of all the hostages – was unfortunately not said.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s coalition partners and ministers in his government were quick to heap praise upon him.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed his speech as an “important declaration.”
“He laid down once again necessary and clear principles, both morally and practically: We will not stop until Hamas is defeated and the hostages are returned. And we will never agree to a Palestinian state,” said Smotrich, who is one of the principal proponents of the war.
France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal are among the countries that have recognized a Palestinian state in the last few days, in part to help keep the possibility of a two-state solution alive. Israel has condemned the moves and threatened to annex parts of the West Bank in response.
“Even if it is difficult, even if there is a price, and even if it takes time,” he emphasized, apparently referring to the Gaza war.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the hundreds of UN delegates who left the hall ahead of Netanyahu’s speech, saying they were “used to spread[ing] lies against Israel. Great speech by PM Netanyahu, shattering these blood libels and false accusations against Israel.”
Several hundred diplomats from around the world staged a walkout from the UN General Assembly hall as Netanyahu entered to deliver his speech.
Those walking out included representatives from Arab, Muslim and African countries but also several from European states.
Defense Minister Israel Katz “congratulated” the premier on his “resolute and clear speech that emphasized the righteousness of Israel’s war on the Islamic axis of evil and the vision of expanding the Abraham Accords for peace with additional countries in the region.”
Meanwhile, Hamas, in reaction to the speech, said that the mass walkout of delegations before Netanyahu’s speech showed Israel’s “isolation” as a result of the Gaza war.
“Boycotting Netanyahu’s speech is one manifestation of Israel’s isolation and the consequences of the war of extermination,” Taher al-Nunu, the media adviser to the head of Hamas’s political bureau, said in a statement.