Netanyahu defends West Bank policy and rejects colonialism claims in UN address

Walkout and opening remarks

Dozens of delegates representing multiple missions walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall on 24 September 2026 as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the podium. The Palestinian delegation had distributed a message to other diplomatic missions ahead of the session, calling on them to join the walkout. The hall, which had been sparsely populated throughout the morning, filled prior to the Israeli leader's address. Netanyahu responded directly to the departing diplomats before starting his formal presentation.

“If there are still cowards in this hall who have not left the room, let them do it now.”

Accusations of colonialism and European powers

Netanyahu used the rostrum to defend Israeli government policy against escalating international criticism over actions and settler violence in the occupied West Bank. He directed his response at critics in Europe, focusing specifically on France and Great Britain. He rejected the characterization of Israel as a colonial presence, arguing that European nations established the concept through their own global empires.

“They accuse Israel, tiny Israel, of colonialism, what colonialism? Among them, there are people in Great Britain and France. Bon sang, ce sont eux qui ont inventé le terme !”

He noted that the former colonial networks of France and Britain once covered the entire planet, contrasting those historical empires with the territory of Israel.

Security threats, Iran and criticism of Turkey

Addressing Middle Eastern security, Netanyahu stated that coordinated efforts between Israel and the United States had successfully prevented Tehran from acquiring nuclear capabilities. He declared a commitment to stop the Iranian government from manufacturing atomic weapons intended to destroy Israel or threaten the broader world, predicting that the leadership in Tehran will eventually collapse. Turning to regional relations, Netanyahu described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a tyrant and called Turkey the latest country to become a super-spreader of anti-Semitic falsehoods.

Clashes with New York mayor and street protests

Netanyahu targeted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during the speech, repeating the phrase "shame on you" three times. He claimed that many Jewish residents have reported feeling unsafe in the city since Mamdani, a left-wing Democrat and longtime pro-Palestinian activist, took office. Mamdani had previously accused Netanyahu of genocide and explored executing an International Criminal Court warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, before confirming that municipal authorities lacked the jurisdiction to detain foreign leaders.

Netanyahu also referenced a car-ramming incident from 23 September 2026 in the occupied West Bank. The attack critically injured an Israeli military reservist who is the son of Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, leaving him in mortal danger. Outside the United Nations building along First Avenue in Manhattan, demonstrators gathered to protest Netanyahu's arrival, chanting that he was wanted for genocide. Police made multiple arrests among the crowd, including actress Susan Sarandon. Netanyahu planned to depart New York immediately following his speech, completing a visit of under 24 hours without meetings with United States officials as he campaigns for the 27 October 2026 legislative elections.