October 7, Still Central
Will He Succeed? Netanyahu’s Last-Ditch Effort to Make the UN Remember October 7
Israeli PM Netanyahu prepares visual presentation for UN General Assembly to highlight October 7 attacks amid diplomatic tensions and Trump's Judea and Samaria annexation comments.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will anchor his address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday using a series of striking visual aids, a deliberate tactical maneuver designed to forcefully redirect global attention to the atrocities of the October 7 massacre.
The move comes amid significant diplomatic friction, including a new wave of international recognitions for a Palestinian state and rising tensions with the U.S. administration following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu's preparatory sessions on Thursday were twofold. One session focused on the political fallout from a "blow" delivered by President Trump, who stated he would "forbid" Netanyahu from annexing all or parts of Judea and Smaria, a policy championed by key coalition partners like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The second focus was the finalization of the UNGA speech, which officials say will “lean heavily on visuals” to ensure the gravity of October 7 penetrates the global diplomatic audience.
Diplomatic Huddles and Travel Route
Netanyahu arrived late Thursday morning at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, having traveled without the press corps on an unusually extended flight path, a measure taken to "avoid potential overflight snubs by third countries," according to reports. He was greeted by Ambassador Danny Danon and Consul-General Ofir Akunis.
His initial schedule in New York included high-level diplomatic sit-downs with the leaders of Argentina, Serbia, and Paraguay. A notable session involved U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
While the Trump administration's stance on annexation may have personally eased some pressure for Netanyahu, who met with his team to finalize the UNGA address, the public rejection of the policy is expected to cause internal strain with hardline elements of his government.
Packed Weekend Agenda
The Prime Minister's schedule following his Friday morning UNGA speech includes engagements intended to rally support and frame Israel's narrative:
The overall strategy emphasizes using both visual messaging and direct media engagement to counter diplomatic headwinds and cement the memory of the October 7 massacre as the central framing for Israel’s ongoing actions.