Video summary
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the ongoing relevance of the United Nations, arguing that while the institution remains vital, it urgently requires significant reform to return to its core mission of promoting peace and security. He contends that decades of inaction have allowed the UN Security Council resolutions to go unenforced across various conflicts, including those involving Israel, Lebanon, and Ukraine, suggesting that international courts often fail to treat all parties equally. Netanyahu warns that without structural changes, the organization risks devolving into a "circus of hate and incitement," citing the Durban conference as a prime example where an initiative meant to fight hatred was instead transformed into a platform for anti-Israel rhetoric.
A central theme of his remarks is the critical need for a strong new Secretary-General who possesses the character and strength to drive these necessary reforms, drawing a sharp contrast with the tenure of António Guterres. Netanyahu alleges that during his second term, Guterres abandoned objectivity and allowed anti-Semitic elements to gain control by appointing radicals to key positions, even going so far as to equate Israeli scholars with Hamas terrorists in a manner he finds unacceptable. He expresses hope that the upcoming election will produce a leader capable of saving the organization from bias and ineffectiveness, noting that while some allies like the United States are moving forward on budget management, the ultimate success of reform depends entirely on the leadership chosen to guide the UN through its next phase.
Looking ahead to the 81st session of the General Assembly, Netanyahu anticipates a speech that will highlight Israel's achievements during the war and outline opportunities for regional peace, particularly regarding the Abraham Accords and potential developments in Lebanon and Syria. He acknowledges the political challenges posed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called for protests against his presence, but remains confident that Prime Minister Netanyahu will make the effort to attend despite the controversy. The Prime Minister dismisses the mayor's actions as an attempt to create chaos and instability in the city during a sensitive time, emphasizing that Israel will not be deterred from engaging with the world stage even when facing hostile local politics. Ultimately, he asserts that Israel must ensure its voice is heard within the UN while pushing for an organization that truly upholds justice rather than becoming a vehicle for incitement against its members.
Read the full video transcript
I want to talk more broadly about the
United Nations. You know, this is your
second term at this body and really for
after decades of failing to uphold its
official mission. Is the UN still
relevant? Because let's look at UN
Security Council resolutions, not just
on Israel, Lebanon, Ukraine. many of
them are not being upheld and
international courts are, you know,
don't regard everyone.
Some might say this plays into Israel's
benefit, but largely speaking, is the UN
still relevant as an institution today.
>> We have that discussion every day,
especially now where we are in the
middle of the process of electing a new
secretary general. And I think the UN is
relevant, but it has to be reformed. It
has to go back to its core values to
really promote peace and security and
not to become a circus of hate and
incitement. You know, take a look for
example at the Durban conference that
took place 25 years ago in South Africa.
It called for fighting hate and
incitement and it became a platform
promoting hate and incitement against
Israel. So I I think it's happening also
at the UN. I think Israel should be part
of the UN. We should make sure that our
voice is being heard, that our allies
are [clears throat] working with us, but
we we need to reform this organization.
And I hope that the new secretary
general will be strong enough, he or she
that will take office in the next few
months, will be strong enough to reform
this organization and to make it more
relevant.
>> Are there any partners that you're
working with to promote these reforms?
because you know we're talking about a
body of 196 countries in addition to
observing non-member states. Is are you
finding uh listening ear to this uh kind
of request agenda to see reforms in the
UN?
>> Yes, especially from our colleagues from
the US know that are moving forward on
the reform on the management budget. I
think that in the right direction, but
it all depends on the character of the
new secretary general. I say that
because I was here when Gutish was
elected 10 years ago and at the
beginning he came with great ideas but
very fast the machine took over and we
saw what happened at the end. He was not
effective. He was biased and
unfortunately
you know for us just counting the days
for his departure. So I I hope that the
the leader that will be elected will be
a real leader that will have the core
and the strength to move forward and to
lead a reform at the UN.
>> Look, Gutes may not be favorable towards
Israel and you've written on that, but
is he substantially different than his
predecessors?
Well, I I think with him what we saw
that during his first term, he tried to
be objective, but once he got elected
for a second term, he revealed his his
face, his true face. And what we found
out that he's allowing anti-semmites to
to gain control over the UN. He
appointed radical elements to key
positions. And you mentioned at the
introduction that you know he he
actually equated Israeli scholars with
the Hamas terrorists. You know my son,
my daughter who fought in the IDF put
them together with the terrorist of
Hamas who committed the horrible crime
of October 7th. That is unacceptable. We
cannot accept that.
>> Now so you mentioned that there's going
to be elections soon to uh select a new
secretary general. I know one of the
leading names is IAEA Chief Rafael
Gorsi. I'm also hearing talk potentially
of uh Nikolai Ladenov, the high
representative for Gaza and the border
peace. He may throw his hat into the
ring. Who would you like to see as the
next secretary general of the United
Nations?
So we will not um get into it publicly
but we have a lot of talks with many
players you know that are involved in
this process. We look at the character
of the candidates and at the background
you know what they said in the past what
was their approach regarding the Middle
East regarding Israel. So I cannot go
into names but you know what we are
looking for is for someone who is
knowledgeable and strong enough to
understand that he's not coming here to
to travel the world and attend
conferences. He has to lead a change. He
has to save this organization.
>> Now obviously you're a diplomat so
you're mining your words here. So you
won't say who you do want but is there a
candidate who you think would be bad for
Israel if they get elected? Well, there
are a few problematic candidates. You
know, we we actually, you know, we look
back and see what they said and wrote. I
can give you one name. You know, the
candidate from Chile is not endorsed by
the Chilean government. Bashalet, you
know, she held different positions at
the UN and and for decades she was very
hostile to Israel. So there's nothing to
hide about it that you know we will not
welcome her candidac. But you know, it's
up to the security council to decide at
the first stage. Then it comes to the
general assembly.
>> Now you mentioned the general assembly
later this month. In fact this week it's
going to uh open its 81st session and
later in the month we're going to see
world leaders take the stage. Many of
them we can expect as history has taught
us are going to use the world's largest
stage to bash and slam Israel. But we're
also going to see Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu take to the stage. What can we
expect to hear in this upcoming speech
that we haven't heard until now?
>> First, we are all looking forward for
the speech of the prime minister. You
know, usually the the most interesting
speeches are the speeches of the
president of the United States and the
Israeli prime minister. And this year
it's going to be more interesting
because unfortunately Mayor Mandani
called for demonstrations against our
prime minister. It will not help him.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to
New York, will speak in the general
assembly, and I am sure that he will
focus on our achievement during the war,
but also on the opportunities that we
have ahead of us, you know, to promote
peace in the region. You know, we look
at what's happening with Lebanon, maybe
even Syria. And I I think it will lay
the ground for future developments. You
know, we are now marking five years for
the Abraham Accord. I I was involved in
the initial stages of the negotiations
you know back then and today we are also
speaking with other countries hopefully
we will see development in this front as
well. Mhm. Now, you mentioned Mayor
Mamdani of New York. You sent him yes
earlier this week uh message saying save
the date with Prime Minister Netanyahu's
kind of slot in the speaker's list of
the UN General Assembly. You're saying
he's calling for protest. What do you
expect is going to happen in the
relations with this uh new mayor who is
unfavorable to Israel to say the least?
>> Indeed. To say the least. You know he
thought that he will threaten the prime
minister and the prime minister will not
come and Netanyao will come even though
it's going to be a very short visit
because of the high holidays but he will
make the effort he will come to New York
for one night will speak and go back to
Israel for for the holiday of Sukkot the
fe of the tabernacle.
I think the mayor is not doing his job.
No, for him he should make sure that the
city will be functioning that week and
[clears throat] that it will be easier
for the people of New York to to go to
work to have their daily life. He's
doing exactly the opposite, creating
chaos, trying to create instability in
the city and it's going to be tough
tough week not only for us or for the
security forces but for the entire
people of New York.