Analyst says Netanyahu's UN address was aimed at strengthening his domestic political standing
A veteran Israeli political analyst told CBS News that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his United Nations speech to rally Israeli voters ahead of the October election, rather than primarily targeting the international audience.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, defending the joint Israel-U.S. war on Iran, rejecting accusations of genocide in Gaza and criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. As diplomats left the hall, Netanyahu urged any remaining “moral cowards” to exit.
Yaakov Katz, former editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post, told CBS News that the speech was deliberately crafted to appeal to Israeli voters ahead of the Oct. 27 legislative election, where Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is trailing in polls. > "People look at the hostility and they say, 'Oh, Netanyahu is not popular. People are walking out.' Israelis, I think, look at this and they say to themselves: 'the world is against us no matter what, but thank God we have a leader, in this case, Netanyahu, who can stand up to everyone and stick it to them,'" he said, adding that the address could consolidate his base.
Katz noted that Netanyahu used Mamdani as a foil, labeling the mayor antisemitic and suggesting that many Jews feel unsafe in New York, a narrative that resonates with some Israeli audiences. He also referenced other figures such as Turkey’s President Erdogan to reinforce a broader theme of external hostility.
The speech was met with protests outside the UN headquarters, where dozens were arrested. Demonstrators, many identifying as American or Israeli Jews, accused Netanyahu of war crimes and genocide, echoing findings of a UN expert panel.
Netanyahu dismissed the genocide allegation as “the greatest lie of the century” and defended Israel’s food aid to Gaza, while Mamdani countered that the prime minister was repeating “baseless lies meant to sanitize his genocide of Palestinians.”
Katz said the speech may have limited impact on the political calculus at home and highlighted Netanyahu’s hope for a public endorsement from President Donald Trump, which has not materialized despite recent social-media polling indicating a modest rise in Netanyahu’s favorability.