Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday, marking a high-stakes moment for both his political career and Israel’s often strained relationship with the international body. This will be Netanyahu’s 15th appearance before the UNGA, yet the political context surrounding the event is more significant than ever.
The address comes as Israel faces mounting accusations of genocide and systematic war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. These criticisms have further polarized Israel’s interaction with the UN, an institution that Israeli leaders have long characterized as hostile. Previous efforts to censure Israel over allegations of apartheid in the West Bank and violence across Palestinian territories have been largely dismissed by Israeli lawmakers as evidence of institutional bias.
For Netanyahu, the speech serves a dual purpose. With polls indicating that faith in his Likud party is waning ahead of crucial elections later this year, the Prime Minister has positioned himself as Israel’s foremost defender on the global stage. Analysts suggest he intends to leverage the extensive domestic media coverage of the address to reinforce his image as a close ally of the United States and to highlight the perceived threat from Iran.
Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York and government adviser, noted that Netanyahu has effectively turned the UNGA address into a national event in Israel. “He’s brainwashed people in Israel into believing his speech is somehow an announcement of policy, stated in defiance of the [rest of the world] who don’t believe a word he says,” Pinkas told Al Jazeera, adding that the Prime Minister uses the platform to project an image of standing up against global opposition.
The trip has also been marked by diplomatic friction. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu’s visit to New York has been shortened due to unspecified security concerns, with the Prime Minister expected to depart on the same day he arrives. Tensions escalated further after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew criticism from Israeli press for his stance on Israel. In response, Danny Danon, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, accused the organization of “diplomatic terrorism” and called for Mamdani’s arrest, alleging incitement against New York’s Jewish community.
While some observers interpreted US President Donald Trump’s lack of availability for a meeting with Netanyahu as a sign of cooling relations, US support for Israel at the UN remains robust. Washington has consistently used its veto power to block resolutions critical of Israel, shielding the country from at least six Security Council measures since the October 7 attacks. This has fueled frustration among some UN member states regarding the body’s limited political role in Gaza and the West Bank.
Zizette Darkazally, an associate fellow at Chatham House, acknowledged the UN’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to deliver aid and medical support to Gaza and the West Bank, areas where Israel controls access. However, she noted that the confrontations with Israel reflect a broader weakening of the organization. “That, combined with a system of veto that’s more than 80 years old, has left the organisation weaker now than it had ever been,” Darkazally said, pointing to the UN’s diminished role in conflicts ranging from Yemen to Sudan and Iran.
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