Leader says Israel ‘must finish the job’ in Gaza

Netanyahu also tells U.N. that recognizing a Palestinian state encourages terrorism.

- BY JENNIFER PELTZ, ADAM GELLER AND FARNOUSH AMIRI

PEOPLE walk out of the U.N. General Assembly during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech.

(ALEXI J. ROSENFELD Getty Images)

Encircled by critics and protesters at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders on Friday that his nation "must finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza, giving a defiant speech despite growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war.

"Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure," he said. "And I guarantee you one thing: Israel won't."

He spoke after dozens of delegates from multiple nations walked out of the U.N. General Assembly hall en masse as his address began.

Responding to countries' recent decisions to recognize Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu said: "Your disgraceful decision will encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere."

As the Israeli leader spoke, unintelligible shouts echoed around the hall. Applause rang out in other quarters as he spoke. The U.S. delegation, which has backed Netanyahu in his campaign against Hamas, stayed put. The few world powers in attendance, the United States and the United Kingdom, did not send their most senior officials or even their U.N. ambassador. Instead, their section of the hall was filled out with more junior, low-level diplomats.

"Antisemitism dies hard. In fact, it doesn't die at all," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu routinely accuses his critics of antisemitism.

Netanyahu faces international isolation, accusations of war crimes and growing pressure to end a conflict he has continued to escalate. Friday's speech was his chance to push back on the international community's biggest platform.