Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered his first address to the United Nations following the Gaza war. In this speech, he positioned Iran as the central antagonist in the Middle East conflict. Netanyahu presented two maps: one depicting Iran as a “curse” and the other showing India as a “blessing.”
The “blessing” map illustrated Netanyahu’s vision of unity between Israel and its Arab partners, creating a land bridge connecting the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, thereby enhancing ties with Asia and Europe.
Conversely, the “curse” map represented what Netanyahu described as “a imprint of terror” that Iran has imposed, stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
Both maps included Palestinian areas in the West Bank, Gaza, and Syria’s Golan Heights as part of Israel. This visual presentation served as part of a broader appeal from Netanyahu for nations to join Israel in imposing sanctions on Iran and thwarting its nuclear weapons program.
During his speech, Netanyahu asserted, “For too long the world has appeased Iran, turning a blind eye to its internal repression and external aggression. The appeasement must end now.”
Addressing Iran’s support for Hezbollah and the Israeli attacks targeting them in Lebanon, Netanyahu warned, “I have a message for the tyrants in Tehran: If you attack us, we will attack you. There is no place in Iran to be attacked.” Tensions between the two countries escalated after the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and intensified further when Iran condemned Israeli actions in Lebanon as “gross war crimes.”