NEW YORK — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a potent and resolute address at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2025, receiving strong praise from Jewish organizations such as the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). ZOA National President Morton “Mort” Klein called it Netanyahu’s most forceful and “Churchillian” speech to date.
In his speech, Netanyahu challenged widespread allegations against Israel, condemning claims of genocide, starvation, and illegal occupation as “modern blood libels” rooted in age-old antisemitic hatred. He compared these falsehoods to the Middle Ages’ slanders accusing Jews of murdering Christian children and poisoning wells, emphasizing that such propaganda is deeply dangerous and entirely illegitimate.
Netanyahu unequivocally dismantled myths of Palestinian leadership as peaceful or moderate, highlighting how both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority promote terrorism openly. He revealed that terrorists receive lifetime salaries in these Palestinian entities, with amounts increasing according to how many Jews they have killed.
Schools, streets, and textbooks glorify murderers and incite hatred, creating a culture that celebrates violence. He also referenced Palestinian public celebrations in the aftermath of the October 7 atrocities, criticizing the lack of accountability within Palestinian society.
The Israeli prime minister expanded his scope to the broader Islamist terror threat, underscoring that its danger extends beyond Israel to the United States and the West. He pointed out repeated chants of “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” from Islamist regimes that aim to annihilate Jews, whom they derogatorily call the “Saturday people,” before targeting Christians, labeled the “Sunday people.”
Netanyahu condemned any governmental weakness that yields to jihadist intimidation, warning that appeasement only emboldens terrorists, citing Winston Churchill’s analogy: “Those who appease the crocodile will simply be eaten last”.
Netanyahu strongly opposed efforts to grant statehood to Palestinian territories currently controlled by jihadist groups. He warned this would reward terrorism and increase violence, noting that over 90 percent of Israelis and the vast majority of the Knesset oppose such measures due to clear threats to Israel’s survival.
The speech offered a message of determination. Netanyahu declared that Israeli forces have dealt significant blows to Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and their proxies. The conflict will continue until Hamas is eliminated as a threat. Netanyahu expressed confidence that victory is near, promising that peace and prosperity in the Middle East will follow.
Mort Klein praised Netanyahu’s rhetoric as “uncompromising, unapologetic, and resolute in the face of global hypocrisy and hate.” Klein emphasized the speech’s significance in exposing false narratives and rallying international attention to the real threats facing Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.
The address came as the UN session saw moments of tension, including walkouts by some delegates opposed to Netanyahu’s views, yet applause by others in support of Israel’s right to defend itself. The speech marks a pivotal moment in the global diplomatic battlefield surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This article is based on verified information from the Jewish Leadership Council, the Times of Israel, the Associated Press, Reuters, and the Zionist Organization of America.