Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN address was less of a speech and more of an accusation, with his fury directed squarely at the Western allies who recently recognized Palestine. He branded their move a “disgraceful decision,” a remarkably harsh choice of words for friendly nations.
This was not the language of diplomacy or persuasion. It was the language of betrayal. Netanyahu positioned himself as a leader whose allies had abandoned him and the fight against terror, opting instead to reward violence with statehood. “You didn’t do something right. You did something wrong, horribly wrong,” he charged.
The accusation was part of a broader narrative of grievance and defiance. By painting his allies as misguided and morally wrong, he reinforces a worldview for his supporters where Israel is a lonely bastion of righteousness in a world that has lost its moral compass.
This approach, however, comes at a high cost. Publicly shaming allies is a risky strategy that can lead to lasting diplomatic damage. The walkout and the presence of junior diplomats suggest that these nations are already putting distance between themselves and a leader who increasingly views them with contempt.