Netanyahu Attacks Iran, Progressive NYC Mayor, and Global South at UN General Assembly
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his UN speech to launch inflammatory attacks on Iran, progressive New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and nations like Qatar and Turkey, while pushing regime change rhetoric against Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, using the global stage to promote destabilizing regime change in Iran. He claimed that Iran’s government would inevitably fall to a popular uprising, stating, 'It’s only a matter of time that, in Iran, something incredible will happen: the power of the people will overcome the people in power,' and asserted that the Iranian people would soon be free. This rhetoric echoes decades of Western interventionism that has repeatedly undermined self-determination in the region.
Netanyahu also singled out New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a progressive leader who has spoken out against Israeli policies. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of making Jews feel unsafe in the city and falsely labeling Israel’s actions as genocide, a term widely used by human rights organizations to describe Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Netanyahu further referenced alleged social-media posts by Mamdani’s wife that praised the Oct. 7 attack, and outrageously claimed Mamdani had threatened to have him arrested if he attended the 2026 UN session, a clear attempt to silence critics of Israeli policy.
The Israeli leader continued his pattern of scapegoating by blaming Qatar and Turkey for so-called 'anti-Israeli narratives,' alleging they fund media outlets and support groups linked to Hamas. Netanyahu condemned Qatar’s engagement with Hamas and attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for alleged human-rights abuses, ignoring Israel’s own record of violations and regional aggression.
In a symbolic act of resistance, Iranian representatives left a portrait of the late IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani in the chamber and exited the hall for the duration of Netanyahu’s speech, refusing to legitimize his warmongering rhetoric.