Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood on the stage of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday holding two maps. In his right hand he held a map of the Middle East in which Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen were colored black and labeled “The Curse”, while in his left hand he held a map in which Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia And countries were shown colored in green. Even India is said to be “blessed”.
However, what was most obvious in both maps was the complete destruction of Palestine. There was no reference to its existence in the green “blessing” map nor the black “curse”.
Netanyahu drew a direct connection between “the curse” and Iranian influence, emphasizing that Iran and its allies were the source of the ongoing conflict in the region.
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On the other hand, countries marked in green, which included Egypt, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia, represented allies or potential allies that had either normalized relations with Israel or were in the process of doing so.
In his address to the United Nations, he held Iran directly responsible for the ongoing violence in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. He cited Tehran’s financial and military support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen as evidence of its destabilizing influence. He argued that Israel is defending itself on multiple fronts against Iranian-backed militias throughout the region.
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Netanyahu warned Iran, saying, “If you attack us, we will attack you.” He said Israel’s reach could extend to the entire Middle East if necessary. As Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, several diplomats walked out in protest.
Netanyahu said Israel’s military action, particularly in Lebanon and Gaza, was a necessary response to Iranian aggression. He declared, “As long as Hezbollah chooses the path of war, Israel has no choice but to address this threat.”
Who are the Hare, and why
saudi arabia
One of the more complicated figures on Netanyahu’s green “blessings” map was Saudi Arabia. Before the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in October 2023, the Biden administration was working on a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. A deal that many considered potentially transformative for the region appeared to be on the horizon. This deal also included America’s defense treaty with Saudi Arabia. In return, Saudi Arabia was to normalize its relations with Israel and Israel would make concessions to the Palestinians and enjoy the benefits of having one of the major players in the Middle East as one of its allies.
However, Saudi Arabia has stated that normalization with Israel would not be possible without the establishment of a Palestinian state. The war between Hamas and Israel has further complicated these discussions, although Netanyahu’s inclusion of Saudi Arabia in the green zone on his map suggests he remains optimistic, or at least, publicly. Offers optimism about future relations with Riyadh.
egypt
Egypt’s presence on the green “blessing” map was not a surprise. Since the 1979 peace treaty, Egypt has maintained formal but often tense relations with Israel. Despite several years of what many call a “cold peace”, Egypt has continued to play an important role in regional stability, especially with regard to Gaza.
Energy and security cooperation between the two countries has strengthened in recent years, with Egypt importing Israeli gas and co-managing Gaza’s security through joint enforcement of the blockade. Although Egypt may not publicly support Israel’s aggressive strategy in Gaza, its vested interests in preventing the spread of Islamic extremism and managing border security ensure its continued cooperation with Israel.
Sudan
In 2021, Sudan signed the Abraham Accords, which was brokered by the US to facilitate diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab states. It was a major change for a country that had been hostile toward Israel for decades under the leadership of former President Omar al-Bashir.
The transitional government in Sudan has used normalization with Israel as a way to strengthen ties with regional powers such as the US and the United Arab Emirates, which have distanced themselves from Islamist movements.
India
India’s presence in the green “blessings” map was indicative of its growing ties with Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. India has drawn closer to Israel in recent years, especially in the fields of defense and technology. While India has historically been a supporter of Palestinian self-determination, its ties with Israel have strengthened as part of its broader strategic realignment.
