09:24Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his country 'wants peace' but warned 'we can strike anywhere', in a speech dominated by boos, cheers and a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.
"A message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us we will strike you. There is no place. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that's true of the entire Middle East. Far from being lambs led to the slaughter Israel's soldiers have fought back with incredible courage and with heroic sacrifice. And I have another message for this Assembly and for the world outside this hall. We are winning," he claimed.
Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Israel had conducted a huge strike on Beirut targeting Hezbollah's headquarters. As he took to the state, boos rang out and many delegates are seen leaving the hall. During the speech however, he received cheers from those, particularly in the upper gallery, who had stayed to listen.
He showed two maps of what he called a 'blessing' - "Israel and its Arab partners forming a land bridge connecting Asia and Europe between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea" - and a 'curse' - "a map of an arc of terror that Iran has created and imposed from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean".
"On the one hand a bright blessing, a future of hope. On the other hand a dark future of despair," he claimed. His appearance at the UN was postponed from Thursday amid the ongoing Lebanon escalation.
"I didn't intend to come here this year. My country is at war fighting for its life. But after I heard the lies and slanders levelled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium I decided to come here and set the record straight," he said. "I decided to come here to speak for my people, to speak for my country, to speak for the truth. And here is the truth. Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again."
The PM also took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and said he had spoken first at the UN four decades ago, against a proposal to expel his country.
"Standing in this podium, 40 years ago, I told the sponsors of that outrageous resolution to expel Israel, Gentlemen, check your fanaticism at the door. Today, I tell President Abbas and all of you who would shamefully support that resolution, check your fanaticism at the door."
The UNGA high-level debate continues until September 30.
'We can strike anywhere!' - Netanyahu insists Israel 'wants peace' amid boos, cheers, mass walkout at UNGA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his country 'wants peace' but warned 'we can strike anywhere', in a speech dominated by boos, cheers and a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.
"A message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us we will strike you. There is no place. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that's true of the entire Middle East. Far from being lambs led to the slaughter Israel's soldiers have fought back with incredible courage and with heroic sacrifice. And I have another message for this Assembly and for the world outside this hall. We are winning," he claimed.
Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Israel had conducted a huge strike on Beirut targeting Hezbollah's headquarters. As he took to the state, boos rang out and many delegates are seen leaving the hall. During the speech however, he received cheers from those, particularly in the upper gallery, who had stayed to listen.
He showed two maps of what he called a 'blessing' - "Israel and its Arab partners forming a land bridge connecting Asia and Europe between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea" - and a 'curse' - "a map of an arc of terror that Iran has created and imposed from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean".
"On the one hand a bright blessing, a future of hope. On the other hand a dark future of despair," he claimed. His appearance at the UN was postponed from Thursday amid the ongoing Lebanon escalation.
"I didn't intend to come here this year. My country is at war fighting for its life. But after I heard the lies and slanders levelled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium I decided to come here and set the record straight," he said. "I decided to come here to speak for my people, to speak for my country, to speak for the truth. And here is the truth. Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again."
The PM also took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and said he had spoken first at the UN four decades ago, against a proposal to expel his country.
"Standing in this podium, 40 years ago, I told the sponsors of that outrageous resolution to expel Israel, Gentlemen, check your fanaticism at the door. Today, I tell President Abbas and all of you who would shamefully support that resolution, check your fanaticism at the door."
The UNGA high-level debate continues until September 30.
Mandatory credit: UNTV/News use only
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed his country 'wants peace' but warned 'we can strike anywhere', in a speech dominated by boos, cheers and a mass walkout at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.
"A message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us we will strike you. There is no place. There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach and that's true of the entire Middle East. Far from being lambs led to the slaughter Israel's soldiers have fought back with incredible courage and with heroic sacrifice. And I have another message for this Assembly and for the world outside this hall. We are winning," he claimed.
Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Israel had conducted a huge strike on Beirut targeting Hezbollah's headquarters. As he took to the state, boos rang out and many delegates are seen leaving the hall. During the speech however, he received cheers from those, particularly in the upper gallery, who had stayed to listen.
He showed two maps of what he called a 'blessing' - "Israel and its Arab partners forming a land bridge connecting Asia and Europe between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea" - and a 'curse' - "a map of an arc of terror that Iran has created and imposed from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean".
"On the one hand a bright blessing, a future of hope. On the other hand a dark future of despair," he claimed. His appearance at the UN was postponed from Thursday amid the ongoing Lebanon escalation.
"I didn't intend to come here this year. My country is at war fighting for its life. But after I heard the lies and slanders levelled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium I decided to come here and set the record straight," he said. "I decided to come here to speak for my people, to speak for my country, to speak for the truth. And here is the truth. Israel seeks peace. Israel yearns for peace. Israel has made peace and will make peace again."
The PM also took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and said he had spoken first at the UN four decades ago, against a proposal to expel his country.
"Standing in this podium, 40 years ago, I told the sponsors of that outrageous resolution to expel Israel, Gentlemen, check your fanaticism at the door. Today, I tell President Abbas and all of you who would shamefully support that resolution, check your fanaticism at the door."
The UNGA high-level debate continues until September 30.