Netanyahu's UN speech backfires
Netanyahu's address to the UN General Assembly drew mass walkouts and a furious backlash, a bad sign for Israel's standing abroad and for the US politicians tied to it.
- Delegates left the hall as Netanyahu spoke, and he taunted them from the podium as "moral cowards."
- He insisted the war in Gaza is not genocide and accused critics of flipping victim and aggressor.
- Critics hit back hard, calling the speech a string of lies and pointing out that Palestinians have no army to fight back with.
- The charge of antisemitism against critics is landing badly, with many saying the anger is about killing civilians and taking land, not about Jewish people.
- Frustration is also aimed at Washington for staying locked in behind Netanyahu regardless of public opinion.
Outlook: Israel's diplomatic isolation looks set to deepen, and US support for it will keep drawing heat at home.