Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered his speech at the UN General Assembly, where he responded to a wave of recognition for a Palestinian state, that reached a peak this week at a two-state conference led by France and Saudi Arabia.
Without official explanation, Wing of Zion appears to have taken a southern route across the Mediterranean Sea, making the trip longer by several hundred miles. This could be designed to avoid European countries' airspace over fear they might enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
After the dramatic international recognition of a Palestinian state, initiated by Saudi Arabia and France, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the UN on Friday. His central theme will be a sharp attack on the countries that granted recognition, most of which did not condition it on Hamas surrendering and releasing the hostages.
At meeting with leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others, Trump vows to push for Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, adding that they were on the verge of ending something “that probably should never have started in the first place.”
Qatar, Turkey and Jordan accused Israel of “genocide” and undermining peace talks, while Indonesia’s president urged guarantees for Israel’s safety as part of a two-state solution.
For the first time since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly and condemned the wave of recognitions of a Palestinian state, saying these were gifts too great for Hamas in light of the atrocities it committed.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country now recognizes a Palestinian state. France joins a growing list of countries that have declared recognition in recent days, including Malta, Luxembourg, Belgium, the UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal.
Lisbon joins growing wave of Western countries ahead of France and others expected to follow at New York two-state summit.
Last July, the consulate recommended accepting "Palestinian refugees" in France and even awarded a scholarship to a student from Gaza, the niece of Ayyub Ahmed Atallah, bodyguard of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who herself expressed support for extremist ideologies, including calls to murder Jews, praise for Hitler, and messages praising Hamas actions.
Saudi Arabia and France will push for recognition of a Palestinian state, US President Donald Trump will make his first UN comeback since his re-election, and Syria’s new leader will seek legitimacy in his debut address. The week ahead promises fierce clashes, historic declarations and renewed efforts to revive the two-state solution.