Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN performance was a remarkable display of singular focus. Unfazed by thousands of protesters on the streets and unmoved by a mass walkout of his diplomatic peers, he delivered a speech that demonstrated a complete and total dedication to his chosen path.
The external pressures were immense. Protesters in Times Square chanted against his policies. Allies who had just recognized Palestine were sitting in the audience. The threat of an ICC warrant hung in the air. A warning from Donald Trump on annexation had just been issued.
None of it mattered. Netanyahu’s speech showed no hint of compromise, no acknowledgment of the criticism, no softening of his positions. He was there to deliver a message, not to listen to one. His focus was on justifying his war and delegitimizing his opponents.
This level of focus can be seen as either strength or delusion. To his supporters, it is the mark of a resolute leader standing firm under pressure. To his detractors, it is the sign of a leader trapped in an echo chamber, unable or unwilling to see the catastrophic consequences of his own actions.
