“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
VIDEO: “Israeli” Prime Minister addresses UN General Assembly
“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened his address at the United Nations General Assembly by vowing to counter what he described as "slanders" against Israel, criticizing several speakers at the UN for their remarks. As Netanyahu began his speech, many delegates were seen walking out.
“After I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight,” Netanyahu said.
Read more: Arab delegations walk out as Netanyahu speaks at UN General Assembly
Netanyahu reaffirmed “Israel’s” stance on its ongoing military operations in Lebanon and Gaza, stating that strikes on Lebanon would continue until Israeli Occupation’s objectives are met.
“Hamas has got to go!” Netanyahu declared, vowing that the group would have no role in Gaza's reconstruction, promising to fight until "total victory."
“If Hamas stays in power, it will regroup... and attack Israel again and again and again. So Hamas has got to go,” Netanyahu emphasized to diplomats gathered at the UN headquarters in New York.
Turning to Iran, Netanyahu issued a stark warning, saying “Israel” would retaliate if attacked.
“I have a message for the tyrants of Tehran. If you strike us, we will strike you,” he said. “There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East.”
Netanyahu also accused Hezbollah of endangering Lebanese civilians by placing “a missile in every kitchen, a rocket in every garage,” and defended Israel’s right to act against these threats.
“Israel has every right to remove this threat and return its citizens safely, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” he declared.
Addressing the issue of civilian casualties, Netanyahu said: “We do so much to minimize civilian casualties, even if our enemies use civilians as human shields.”
He reiterated, “We spare no effort in this noble pursuit,” claiming that Israel exerts significant efforts to limit harm to civilians.
The Prime Minister also criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing him of leading efforts to expel “Israel” from the UN.
“This is the same man who claims he wants peace,” Netanyahu remarked.
Netanyahu issued a scathing description of the United Nations, calling it a “swamp of anti-Semitic bile.”
He added that the United Nations had become a "contemptuous farce" as he denounced the world body's unfair treatment of them.
"I say to you, until Israel -- until the Jewish state -- is treated like other nations, until this anti-Semitic swamp is drained, the UN will be viewed by fair-minded people everywhere as nothing more than a contemptuous farce.”
Netanyahu: “We are winning.”
Netanyahu: “Hamas has got to go!”
Netanyahu: “If Hamas stays in power; it will regroup and attack Israel once again.”
Netanyahu: “We don’t seek to re-settle Gaza, we seek a demilitarized Gaza.”
Netanyahu: “If Hamas stays in power; it will regroup and attack Israel once again.”
Netanyahu: “We don’t seek to re-settle Gaza, we seek a demilitarized Gaza.”
Netanyahu: “There is no substitute for total victory.”
Netanyahu: “Israel must also defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Netanyahu: “Hezbollah is the quintessential terrorist organization in the world.”
Netanyahu: “I’ve come here to say enough is enough”
Netanyahu: “We won't’ rest until our citizens return safely to their homes”
Netanyahu: “Hezbollah puts a missile in every kitchen, a rocket in every garage”
Netanyahu: “Israel has every right to remove this threat and return its citizens safely, and that’s exactly what we are doing”
Netanyahu: “We do so much to minimize civilian casualties, even if our enemies use civilians as human shields.”
Netanyahu: “We spare no effort in this noble pursuit,” Netanyahu said claiming “Israel” exerts efforts to minimize civilian casualties.”
Netanyahu: “Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is leading the charge for the expulsion of Israel from the UN”
Netanyahu: “This is the same man who claims he wants peace”