Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented two maps of the Middle East on Friday during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, conspicuously omitting any reference to Gaza or the occupied West Bank.
Speaking on the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, which raises fears of escalating into a full-scale war potentially involving other nations, Netanyahu used the maps to make his points. The first map illustrated a logistical bridge from India to Southern Europe via the Middle East, a concept he previously showcased last year. The second map depicted countries with Iranian influence in the region.
Netanyahu contrasted the two maps, describing the first as “paradise” and the second as “a curse,” according to his interpretation.
What stood out, however, was that both maps lacked any mention of Gaza, which has been enduring a devastating conflict for nearly a year, or the West Bank, where Israeli military operations have been ongoing for weeks.
Netanyahu frequently uses maps and visual aids in his speeches, both within Israel and internationally. Earlier in September, he presented a map of Israel that also excluded West Bank cities.
During his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu declared that Israel is “at war, fighting for its survival.”
Several delegations walked out as Netanyahu approached the podium, while supporters cheered him on. He issued a stark warning: “There is no place in Iran that Israel’s long arm cannot reach. The same applies to the entire Middle East.”
Coinciding with his speech, the Israeli military launched a heavy assault on Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital. Reports have since emerged regarding the uncertain fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with speculation about the possibility of his death.
