UN sees rare en mass walkout as Netanyahu speaks

Israeli PM blames Iran for violence; refuses to relent in attacks on Gaza, Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS:

Several delegations at the United Nations General Assembly, including Pakistan and Arab states, walked out on Friday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached the lectern to deliver his speech in which blamed Iran for the escalating violence in the Middle Eastern region.

As Israel continued strikes against Hezbollah In southern Lebanon, and diplomats raced to secure a pause in the widening conflict, at least the two General Assembly speakers before Netanyahu thumped the lectern as they condemned Israeli attacks.

"Mr Netanyahu, stop this war now," Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob demanded, while addressing the General Assembly. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: "We must act now and demand an immediate end to this bloodshed."

Diplomats at the UN voiced fears the Israeli attacks could flare into an all-out regional war. In his speech, Netanyahu sought to pin blame for the conflict on Israel's arch-foe, Iran, whose delegation was absent for the speech, while his supporters in the gallery cheered.

Netanyahu said Israel was defending itself against Tehran on seven fronts, including against Hamas in Gaza. "My country is at war, fighting for its life," he said. "Our enemies seek not only to destroy us, they seek to destroy our common civilisation and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror," he said.

"Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for nearly a year. Well, I've come here today to say enough is enough," Netanyahu said. "There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach. And that's true of the entire Middle East," he boasted.

"I have another message for this assembly and for the world outside this hall: We are winning," he said, insisting that Israel's campaign would continue. "We'll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are made," he told the UN assembly.

Netanyahu also called for tougher action on Iran's nuclear programme. "I call on the Security Council to snap back UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, because we must all do everything in our power to ensure that Iran never gets nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also reiterated his earlier vows that Israel would block Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "Iran now seeks to weaponise its nuclear programme for the sake of the peace and security of all your countries, and I assure you, Israel will do everything in its power to make sure it doesn't happen."