Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address at the United Nations General Assembly was marked by a powerful visual display as he presented two maps to illustrate his worldview of the Middle East. Both maps provocatively included the Palestinian territories—the West Bank and Gaza—within the borders of Israel, reinforcing Netanyahu’s hardline stance on Israeli territorial claims. His presentation, which portrayed a stark division between nations labeled as "The Curse" and those marked as "The Blessing," underscored Israel’s shifting alliances and its increasingly adversarial position towards Iran and its regional partners.
The map on Netanyahu’s right-hand side painted Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen in black, branding these countries as “The Curse.” This depiction was a direct reflection of Netanyahu’s long-standing view that these nations, either due to their opposition to Israel or their support for militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, are central to the destabilization of the region. Conversely, the map on his left-hand side highlighted countries like Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and India in green, labeled “The Blessing,” signifying Israel’s growing ties with these nations. This alignment reflects the diplomatic progress made in recent years, particularly under the Abraham Accords, which have seen Israel forge unprecedented relations with several Arab states.
Netanyahu used this opportunity to not only emphasize the shifting dynamics in the Middle East but also to issue a stark warning to Israel’s enemies, particularly Iran. He accused Tehran of being the primary force behind the region’s instability, citing its support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and other militant factions. Netanyahu’s message to Iran was clear and unequivocal: “If you strike us, we will strike you.” He underscored Israel’s military reach, declaring that there is no place in Iran or the broader Middle East that Israel’s forces cannot target. This declaration served as a direct response to recent escalations, including the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and Israeli strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria.
The Israeli Prime Minister further warned that appeasement of Iran by the international community would only lead to greater conflict, calling on world leaders to take a firm stand against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence. Netanyahu’s tough rhetoric comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran have reached new heights, particularly following direct Iranian attacks on Israeli targets in response to Israeli airstrikes on Iranian interests in Syria.
In addition to his sharp focus on Iran, Netanyahu also addressed the Palestinian issue, framing Israel as a nation that seeks peace but is thwarted by Palestinian intransigence. He accused Palestinian leaders of fostering “Jew-hatred” and urged them to accept the reality of the Jewish state, suggesting that peace could only be achieved when Palestinians reconcile with Israel’s existence. This message echoed Netanyahu’s long-standing position that the path to peace in the region lies not in Israeli concessions, but in a fundamental shift in Palestinian leadership and their approach to Israel.
Netanyahu’s use of the maps also highlighted Israel’s aspirations for broader regional normalization. By showing countries like Saudi Arabia as part of “The Blessing,” Netanyahu hinted at ongoing efforts to formalize relations with the kingdom, which would represent a historic shift in the Arab world’s approach to Israel. While Saudi Arabia has yet to officially join the Abraham Accords, there have been indications of warming ties, driven by mutual concerns over Iran’s influence in the region and economic and security interests.
The inclusion of India in “The Blessing” further emphasized the importance of Israel’s strategic partnerships beyond the Middle East. India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has strengthened its relationship with Israel in recent years, with both countries collaborating on defense, technology, and trade. Modi’s swift condemnation of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 was seen as a reaffirmation of this growing partnership, even as India continues to support the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Netanyahu’s speech at the UN came against the backdrop of escalating violence in the region, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. As Israel ramps up its military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and continues its heavy bombardments of Gaza in response to Hamas rocket fire, Netanyahu’s address served as both a justification for Israel’s actions and a warning of further military escalation if its security is threatened. The Israeli military has been conducting airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon, as part of its broader strategy to neutralize what it sees as Iran’s proxy forces on its northern border.
By urging the world to choose between “The Blessing” and “The Curse,” Netanyahu framed the conflict in stark moral terms, casting Israel as a nation defending itself against existential threats while seeking peace with those willing to engage in dialogue. His portrayal of Israel as a peace-seeking country, however, was met with skepticism by critics, who argue that Israel’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza contribute to the very instability Netanyahu decried.
The speech was a bold statement of Israel’s current geopolitical strategy—consolidating alliances with Arab and non-Arab nations while maintaining a hardline stance against Iran and Palestinian leadership. As the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon intensifies, Netanyahu’s message to the international community was clear: Israel will not hesitate to defend itself, and it expects the world to support its efforts to combat what it sees as the root of the region’s instability.
