Netanyahu throws down the gauntlet in UN speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a blistering speech at the United Nations in defense of the Jewish state’s right to exist and the justification of its war on the antisemitic terrorist network headed by Iran.

Netanyahu left no enemy of Israel unnamed. He left no doubts that his plan is for the total defeat of Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iran proxy terrorist groups.  He chastised West Bank Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for his support of terrorists and paying bounties for killing Jews.  Netanyahu attacked the World Court as an antisemitic organization for declaring him a war criminal and threatening to issue an arrest warrant.

He also called out the UN for its historic criticism of Israel in the form of more than 70 condemnatory resolutions.  He called the world organization an “antisemitic swamp.”  The best evidence of that may have been the large number of delegations that boycotted the speech. The main floor was mostly empty.  I cannot recall any previous head of state so harshly criticizing the UN from its own platform.

What the Israeli leader seemed to have made very clear is that there would be no cessation in hostilities against terrorist organizations – no cease fires – until they are totally defeated.  He said peace could come to Gaza immediately if Hamas will lay down their arms and surrender.  There would be no role in post-war Gaza for Hamas.  Instead, Israel would lead a regional authority to create a civilian democratic Palestinian leadership.

In terms of Hezbollah, it is clear from Netanyahu’s speech – and recent escalation – that Israel is ready to launch a full-scale assault on the terrorist group. 

When all those pagers and walkie-talkies blew up, I did not see it as a one-off tactic. Rather as a precursor of a much larger military effort. The exploding pagers were just a means of disrupting Hezbollah communications ahead of a much larger military assault – which came shortly thereafter in the form of a massive missile attack on key Hezbollah targets and leaders.  It appears that a ground invasion is the next action.  To underscore his Israel’s resolve, the main Hezbollah headquarters was bombed even as Netanyahu was in New York City for the UN speech – killing the terrorist group’s top leaders.

Perhaps Netanyahu’s most ominous language was directed at Iran.  While he did not use the term “regime change,” he left little doubt that the current leadership of Iran cannot be allowed to sponsor terrorism or to acquire nuclear weapons.  He said that if the world of nations will not stop Iran, Israel will.  That had the ring of a declaration of war.

Netanyahu was not wrong in defining the problem – and not unreasonable in the course of his actions on the battlefield.  It is doubtful, however, that his speech will have much impact on the United Nations audience.  The more important question is what will be the impact on Israeli allies—especially the United States?  That question rests most heavily on President Biden and the Harris/Walz campaign.

Both Biden and Harris have moved away from the once rock-solid shoulder-to-shoulder alliance between Israel and the United States.  Since Biden’s initial backing of Israel – sealed with a hug in Tel Aviv – the administration has become critical of Israel’s conduct of the war.  In fact, it has more often than not sided with the Palestinian propaganda machine – undermining Israel’s image throughout the world.  Harris would be more closely aligned with Palestinian/Hamas interests based on her rhetoric.

Netanyahu’s speech made it clear that there will be no ceasefire until Israel is successful in defeating the terrorist organizations – meaning wiping them out with no hold on power and no military capability.

The UN speech demonstrates that the Biden/Harris/Walz policy of splitting the difference between Israel and the Arab terrorist network has failed miserably – as it should.

Netanyahu said Israel is winning – and indeed they are.  They are crushing Hamas and have now done enormous damage to Hezbollah.  They will win on those fronts unless Iran engages directly in the war.  That would put the ball squarely in the American court.

Counting Afghanistan and Ukraine, the Middle East is the third major disastrous foreign policy failure of the Biden/Harris administration.  When Netanyahu threw the gauntlet down at the UN, it landed on the doorstep at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

So, there ‘tis.

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