During a speech at the United Nations on Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state, calling it a ‘national suicide’ for Israel. The address, delivered in a mostly empty hall, underscored the deepening geopolitical divisions and the limited international support for Palestinian statehood claims.
Netanyahu’s remarks came amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with many countries and international leaders choosing not to attend the event, signaling a lack of consensus on the issue. The sparse attendance at the UN assembly highlighted the polarized international community and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s speech aimed to rally domestic support and reaffirm his administration’s hardline stance on territorial sovereignty and security. The low turnout at the UN, however, may reflect the growing skepticism among global leaders about the viability of a two-state solution and the potential for renewed hostilities in the region.