Netanyahu paints Israel's critics as 'antisemites' in angry UN speech to near-empty hall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a pugnacious speech at the United Nations General Assembly, attacking everyone from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leaders of Western Europe, as he tried to counter Israel’s growing international isolation. Netanyahu did not hold back from taking an aggressive stance towards critics when the General Assembly hall erupted in boos as he took to the podium, with most delegates walking out in protest. “Order in the hall, please. Order in the hall, please,” the president of the General Assembly could be heard shouting, trying to silence the room. “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this hall, please do so now,” Netanyahu said, smiling, before he began his speech. Read more: Netanyahu paints Israel's critics as 'antisemites' in angry UN speech to near-empty hall Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, on 24 September 2026 (Alexi J Rosenfeld/Getty Images/AFP)