A tale of two messages unfolded as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN, just a day after President Donald Trump pledged to block any Israeli annexation of the West Bank. While Netanyahu did not directly address Trump, his speech was a fiery rejection of the very foundation of Palestinian sovereignty.
At the UN, Netanyahu called the recognition of a Palestinian state “insane,” lashing out at the 157 nations, including key Western allies, that have taken this step. His confrontational stance prompted a mass walkout by over 100 diplomats, leaving him to speak to a largely empty room.
Netanyahu focused his remarks on the war in Gaza, promising to “finish the job” and dismantle the remaining Hamas forces. He cast the war as a necessary struggle for survival and dismissed accusations of war crimes leveled by the International Criminal Court.
The juxtaposition of Trump’s comment and Netanyahu’s speech highlights the complex and shifting political dynamics. While Netanyahu’s government faces growing global isolation for its rejection of a two-state solution, it is also receiving pushback from a key, historically supportive figure in US politics regarding its expansionist ambitions.
