At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address triggered a mass walkout as dozens of delegates left the hall in protest.
Netanyahu criticized Western nations including France, Britain, Portugal, Australia and Canada for recognizing the State of Palestine, warning that such moves "send a clear message to the Palestinians that murdering Jews pays off." More than 150 UN member states have now recognized Palestinian statehood.
The walkout was met with boos for Netanyahu from some delegates—and a smattering of applause from others—highlighting deep divisions over the two-state solution. In his speech, Netanyahu accused Palestinian leaders of never truly supporting a two-state framework, arguing they "want a Palestinian state instead of Israel." He added that persistent rejection of a Jewish state "in any boundary" has fueled over a century of conflict.
Responding via video link, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reminded attendees that the Palestinian Authority first recognized Israel's right to exist back in 1988, and again in 1993. He described nearly two years of what he called "genocide, destruction, starvation and displacement" in the Gaza Strip, saying Israeli occupation forces have killed or injured more than 220,000 Palestinians.
Abbas condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, stressing that it "does not represent the Palestinian people nor their just struggle for freedom and independence." He thanked nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood and supporters worldwide, while reaffirming his rejection of antisemitism.
Earlier this month, the UNGA adopted a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, laying out an action-oriented pathway toward a sustainable two-state solution.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
