Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN speech had passion and props – but no clear plan to end war

Benjamin Netanyahu loves the platform of the United Nations but the UN doesn’t love him.

As he entered, hundreds of diplomats left. He delivered his speech to a chamber more than half empty.

Mr Netanyahu claimed he was not initially going to attend, but was compelled to by the “lies and slanders” he heard from other leaders.

He used the moment to remind the world of 7 October and the ongoing fate of hostages being held inside Gaza.

He justified Israel’s war, claiming without evidence that it is the most moral campaign in history. Israel critics, of which there are many, accuse the country of genocide.

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He pointed the finger at the “goons” in Iran as he has done year after year and described the Iranian axis across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon as a curse.

He lambasted the International Criminal Court for seeking arrest warrants against him and defence minister Yoav Gallant.

He invoked biblical references to advocate modern-day peace but insisted his country must keep fighting multiple wars; there was not even a passing glance to the US-French proposal for a truce in Lebanon.

Mr Netanyahu again dedicated time to speak about the prospect of normalisation with Saudi Arabia, something he is desperate for, but the Kingdom’s Crown Prince isn’t.

Riyadh won’t make peace with Israel without a path to an independent Palestinian state, and that is something Mr Netanyahu isn’t willing to give.

Mr Netanyahu does these moments well. He is a master of the media and revels in the moment.

In the end though, we heard nothing new.

It was passionate and it was angry. It had maps as props and a crowd flown in to cheer along.

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But there was no explanation for how the war in Gaza will end, no plan for the ‘day after’ and no idea for “deradicalisation”.

He said Israel must “defeat” Hezbollah but gave no hint of a timeline and no clue what might come next.

It was a speech that will go down well with many here in Israel, their leader defending their country on the world stage.

But Israelis are weary after 12 months of war and many will come away wondering how many more months of conflict lie ahead.