UN DELEGATES WALK OUT AS NETANYAHU DEFENDS IRAN ATTACK

Dozens of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall in New York on Thursday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his address, during which he defended Israel’s military action against Iran.

The walkout came after the Palestinian Mission to the UN urged representatives to leave during Netanyahu’s speech. As the Israeli leader approached the podium, several delegations stood and exited the hall.

Reacting to the departure, Netanyahu described those who left as “moral cowards” and told other delegates who remained that they could also leave.

Netanyahu defended Israel’s military action against Iran, saying the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities was difficult but that deciding to carry out the operation was one of the easiest decisions he had made as Prime Minister.

He argued that the action was necessary because, in his view, failing to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities would have posed a threat to Israel and other countries.

Netanyahu also claimed that Israel’s military operation was benefiting countries whose representatives had walked out of the General Assembly.

He said some foreign leaders had privately thanked Israel for attacking Iran’s nuclear programme, describing the criticism from some countries as “mind-blowing hypocrisy.”

The Israeli Prime Minister also used his address to recount Israel’s experience during the 1967 Six-Day War and what he described as the country’s longstanding struggle for survival.

He recalled his brother, Yoni Netanyahu, an Israeli paratrooper who was killed while leading the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue operation in Uganda.

Netanyahu said his brother had expressed confidence that Israel would win during the Six-Day War, adding that there was “no other choice.”

He also recalled the 1976 hijacking of an Air France passenger plane to Entebbe, saying Israeli forces rescued 103 hostages during the operation.

The walkout was the latest disruption at this year’s UN General Assembly. Iranian delegates had earlier left the hall during US President Donald Trump’s address after he threatened to “annihilate” Iran if Tehran failed to reach a deal with Washington.

Netanyahu’s address came amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran and international criticism of Israel’s military actions. His speech also addressed other regional issues and Israel’s relations with countries critical of its policies.