The defining image of Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the UN was one of absence. In a coordinated and powerful protest, diplomats from over 50 nations walked out of the General Assembly hall as the Israeli Prime Minister prepared to speak, leaving him to face a sea of empty chairs.
The protest was a direct response to his government’s conduct in the nearly two-year Gaza war and its staunch opposition to a two-state solution. Netanyahu’s subsequent speech only reinforced the positions that triggered the walkout. He vowed to “finish the job” against Hamas and called the recognition of Palestine “sheer madness.”
He accused the 157 nations that recognize Palestine of making a “disgraceful decision” that encourages terrorism. He also denied genocide charges and claimed private support from unnamed world leaders, claims that were met with skepticism given the very public rebuke he had just received.
The walkout represents a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure on Israel. It demonstrates a broad, cross-regional consensus that Netanyahu’s current path is untenable and a major obstacle to peace and stability in the region.