Netanyahu to Defend Israel at UNGA, Teases 'Surprises' in Speech
Netanyahu says he will use his UN General Assembly address to defend Israel and its military, and hinted at unspecified 'surprises'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will use his address to the United Nations General Assembly to defend his country and its soldiers, and hinted that his speech may contain "surprises".
In a video message released before his departure for New York, Netanyahu said he was travelling to the UN podium to make Israel's case. He said "terrible lies" were being spread about Israel and its defence forces, both at the United Nations and in "other places around the world".
He promised to confront those claims directly, saying he would fight the lies and fight for what he described as the truth about Israel's soldiers and the country. He did not elaborate on the nature of the "surprises" he mentioned.
Netanyahu is scheduled to address the assembly on Thursday.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend the gathering in person for a second consecutive year, after the United States declined to issue him a visa. Abbas is nonetheless expected to address the assembly by video on the same day as Netanyahu.