And Christians don’t fare much better. When Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, was under Israeli control, 80 percent of its residents were Christians. But since the PA took control, that number has dwindled to under 20 percent.
These are the people you want to give a state to?
What you’re doing is giving the ultimate reward to intolerant fanatics who perpetrated and supported the October 7th massacre.
Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th.
This is sheer madness! It’s insane, and we won’t do it.
So here’s another message for these Western leaders: Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats. We will not commit national suicide because you don’t have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’s blood.
I want you to grasp something else that is also distorted in the media. I say this not only in my name or the name of my government but on behalf of all the people of Israel.
Last year, there was a vote in the Knesset, our parliament, whether or not to oppose the imposition of a Palestinian state. You want to guess what the results were?
Out of the 120 members of our parliament, 99 voted against. And only 9 supported. That’s over 90%. It’s not a fringe group, it’s not the Prime Minister who himself is extreme or held hostage by extreme parties to his right — it is over 90% of Israelis. My opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policy or my government’s policy — it is the policy of the state and people of the State of Israel.
Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure. I guarantee you one thing: Israel won’t.
Israel’s victories over the Iranian terror axis have opened up possibilities for peace that were unthinkable two years ago.
Take Syria. For decades, the very idea of peace between Israel and Syria seemed unimaginable.
No more. Today we have begun serious negotiations with the new Syrian government. I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syria’s sovereignty and protects both Israel’s security and the security of the minorities in the region, including the Druze minority.
From the founding of Israel, Jews and Druze have been brothers in arms. We have fought together, we have bled together, we built our lives together.
When I was a young commander in Israel’s special forces, my own life was saved by the invaluable advice given to me by a great friend, Salim Shufi, a heroic Druze IDF veteran.
That’s why I could not sit idly by, nor could Israel sit idly by, while the Druze were being slaughtered by Jihadists. And I instructed our forces to stop the massacre, which they promptly did.
Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the Lebanese government to also begin direct negotiations with Israel.
I commend it for its declared aim to disarm Hezbollah, but we need more than words. If Lebanon takes genuine and sustained action to disarm Hezbollah, I am sure we can achieve a sustainable peace. Of course, until that happens, we will take whatever action we need to defend ourselves and to maintain the conditions of the ceasefire which was established in Lebanon.
Our goal is not merely to monitor Hezbollah’s actions, but to prevent them from violating the ceasefire and attacking us at any time. I’m sure that if the Lebanese government persists in its goal of disarming Hezbollah, peace will come very speedily and very readily.
Victory over Hezbollah has made peace possible with our two Arab neighbors in the North. Victory over Hamas will make peace possible with nations throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
Our victory would lead to a dramatic expansion of the historic Abraham Accords, which President Trump brokered between Arab leaders and myself five years ago.
I took note, as I’m sure you did too, of the encouraging words spoken here by the President of Indonesia. This is the country with the largest Muslim population of all nations, and it’s also a sign of what could come.
These are the people you want to give a state to?
What you’re doing is giving the ultimate reward to intolerant fanatics who perpetrated and supported the October 7th massacre.
Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7th is like giving Al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11th.
This is sheer madness! It’s insane, and we won’t do it.
So here’s another message for these Western leaders: Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats. We will not commit national suicide because you don’t have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’s blood.
I want you to grasp something else that is also distorted in the media. I say this not only in my name or the name of my government but on behalf of all the people of Israel.
Last year, there was a vote in the Knesset, our parliament, whether or not to oppose the imposition of a Palestinian state. You want to guess what the results were?
Out of the 120 members of our parliament, 99 voted against. And only 9 supported. That’s over 90%. It’s not a fringe group, it’s not the Prime Minister who himself is extreme or held hostage by extreme parties to his right — it is over 90% of Israelis. My opposition to a Palestinian state is not simply my policy or my government’s policy — it is the policy of the state and people of the State of Israel.
Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure. I guarantee you one thing: Israel won’t.
Israel’s victories over the Iranian terror axis have opened up possibilities for peace that were unthinkable two years ago.
Take Syria. For decades, the very idea of peace between Israel and Syria seemed unimaginable.
No more. Today we have begun serious negotiations with the new Syrian government. I believe an agreement can be reached that respects Syria’s sovereignty and protects both Israel’s security and the security of the minorities in the region, including the Druze minority.
From the founding of Israel, Jews and Druze have been brothers in arms. We have fought together, we have bled together, we built our lives together.
When I was a young commander in Israel’s special forces, my own life was saved by the invaluable advice given to me by a great friend, Salim Shufi, a heroic Druze IDF veteran.
That’s why I could not sit idly by, nor could Israel sit idly by, while the Druze were being slaughtered by Jihadists. And I instructed our forces to stop the massacre, which they promptly did.
Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the Lebanese government to also begin direct negotiations with Israel.
I commend it for its declared aim to disarm Hezbollah, but we need more than words. If Lebanon takes genuine and sustained action to disarm Hezbollah, I am sure we can achieve a sustainable peace. Of course, until that happens, we will take whatever action we need to defend ourselves and to maintain the conditions of the ceasefire which was established in Lebanon.
Our goal is not merely to monitor Hezbollah’s actions, but to prevent them from violating the ceasefire and attacking us at any time. I’m sure that if the Lebanese government persists in its goal of disarming Hezbollah, peace will come very speedily and very readily.
Victory over Hezbollah has made peace possible with our two Arab neighbors in the North. Victory over Hamas will make peace possible with nations throughout the Arab and Muslim world.
Our victory would lead to a dramatic expansion of the historic Abraham Accords, which President Trump brokered between Arab leaders and myself five years ago.
I took note, as I’m sure you did too, of the encouraging words spoken here by the President of Indonesia. This is the country with the largest Muslim population of all nations, and it’s also a sign of what could come.
❤1
Forward-looking Arab and Muslim leaders know that cooperating with Israel will provide them with ground-breaking Israeli technologies, including in medicine and science, in agriculture and water, in defense and AI and so many other fields.
I believe that in the coming years, the Middle East will look dramatically different. Many of those who wage war on Israel today will be gone tomorrow. Brave peacemakers will take their place.
Nowhere will this be more true than in Iran.
The long-suffering Iranian people will regain their freedom. They will Make Iran Great Again!
And our two ancient peoples, the people of Israel and the people of Iran, will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, those horrors happened countless times during the centuries of my people’s exile among the nations. Jewish blood was cheap. Jews were killed with impunity. We had to beg others to defend us.
The rise of Israel did not mean that the attempts to destroy us would end. It meant that we could fight back against those attempts. That is exactly what Israel has done since October 7th.
Our sons and daughters fought like lions. Our brave soldiers donned their uniforms and rushed into battle. They were armed with the dreams of the 100 generations of Jews who came before them.
The dream of living as a free people in the Land of Israel, our beloved homeland for more than 3000 years. The dreams of living in our own independent state. The dream of having an army to defend ourselves. And the dream of being a light unto the nations — a beacon of progress, ingenuity and innovation for the benefit of all humanity.
On October 7th, the enemies of Israel tried to extinguish that light. Two years later, the resolve of Israel, and the strength of Israel burn brighter than ever.
With God’s help, that strength and that resolve will lead us to a speedy victory and to a brilliant future of prosperity and peace.
Thank you very much.”
I believe that in the coming years, the Middle East will look dramatically different. Many of those who wage war on Israel today will be gone tomorrow. Brave peacemakers will take their place.
Nowhere will this be more true than in Iran.
The long-suffering Iranian people will regain their freedom. They will Make Iran Great Again!
And our two ancient peoples, the people of Israel and the people of Iran, will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, those horrors happened countless times during the centuries of my people’s exile among the nations. Jewish blood was cheap. Jews were killed with impunity. We had to beg others to defend us.
The rise of Israel did not mean that the attempts to destroy us would end. It meant that we could fight back against those attempts. That is exactly what Israel has done since October 7th.
Our sons and daughters fought like lions. Our brave soldiers donned their uniforms and rushed into battle. They were armed with the dreams of the 100 generations of Jews who came before them.
The dream of living as a free people in the Land of Israel, our beloved homeland for more than 3000 years. The dreams of living in our own independent state. The dream of having an army to defend ourselves. And the dream of being a light unto the nations — a beacon of progress, ingenuity and innovation for the benefit of all humanity.
On October 7th, the enemies of Israel tried to extinguish that light. Two years later, the resolve of Israel, and the strength of Israel burn brighter than ever.
With God’s help, that strength and that resolve will lead us to a speedy victory and to a brilliant future of prosperity and peace.
Thank you very much.”
(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
Friday, 26 September 2025 / 4 Tishrei 5786
President Isaac Herzog:
Prime Minister Netanyahu is spot on in his clear words against the false and libelous accusation of genocide, in his speech today at the UNGA.
We must stand strong: to bring our hostages home ASAP, and to build a future of hope and security for us and the whole region.
https://x.com/isaac_herzog/status/1971591070174834804?s=46
Jason Pearlman, 052-6328795
Friday, 26 September 2025 / 4 Tishrei 5786
President Isaac Herzog:
Prime Minister Netanyahu is spot on in his clear words against the false and libelous accusation of genocide, in his speech today at the UNGA.
We must stand strong: to bring our hostages home ASAP, and to build a future of hope and security for us and the whole region.
https://x.com/isaac_herzog/status/1971591070174834804?s=46
Jason Pearlman, 052-6328795
X (formerly Twitter)
יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) on X
Prime Minister @Netanyahu is spot on in his clear words against the false and libelous accusation of genocide, in his speech today at the UNGA.
We must stand strong: to bring our hostages home ASAP, and to build a future of hope and security for us and the…
We must stand strong: to bring our hostages home ASAP, and to build a future of hope and security for us and the…
Prime Minister's Spokesperson's Unit Announcement
The Prime Minister's Spokesperson's Unit, this evening (Saturday, 27 September 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:
As part of the public diplomacy effort, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN speech has – in the past few hours – been distributed dubbed into Arabic.
The QR code that the Prime Minister wore yesterday during his speech, which leads to a site that documents the October 7 atrocities, has been scanned over 1 million times, with approximately 30% of the scans from Iran and Gaza.
Attached is a segment from the Prime Minister's UN speech dubbed into Arabic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERXG1v_ASL8
The Prime Minister's Spokesperson's Unit, this evening (Saturday, 27 September 2025) [translated from Hebrew]:
As part of the public diplomacy effort, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN speech has – in the past few hours – been distributed dubbed into Arabic.
The QR code that the Prime Minister wore yesterday during his speech, which leads to a site that documents the October 7 atrocities, has been scanned over 1 million times, with approximately 30% of the scans from Iran and Gaza.
Attached is a segment from the Prime Minister's UN speech dubbed into Arabic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERXG1v_ASL8
YouTube
رسالة مهمة لحماس من رئيس حكومة إسرائيل بنيامين نتنياهو
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to American Influencers in New York: The only value in life is its purpose and if it depends on the survival and prosperity of the Jewish People and rebuffing the wave of hatred and denigration – you must fight!
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met – at the Israeli Consulate in New York after his UN General Assembly speech – with pro-Israel American influencers and spoke with them about the challenges in the new era, as well as the public diplomacy efforts and the influence of the social networks on the discourse for and against Israel.
Attached photo credits: Avi Ohayon (GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met – at the Israeli Consulate in New York after his UN General Assembly speech – with pro-Israel American influencers and spoke with them about the challenges in the new era, as well as the public diplomacy efforts and the influence of the social networks on the discourse for and against Israel.
Attached photo credits: Avi Ohayon (GPO)
❤3
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Departs for Washington
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation have departed for Washington.
The Prime Minister will meet with President Trump at the White House at 11:00 (EDT).
Following the meeting, the two leaders are expected to issue statements to the media at 13:15 (EDT).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation have departed for Washington.
The Prime Minister will meet with President Trump at the White House at 11:00 (EDT).
Following the meeting, the two leaders are expected to issue statements to the media at 13:15 (EDT).
Bank of Israel decides to leave the interest rate unchanged at 4.5%
https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/the-monetary-committee-decides-on-september-29-2025-to-leave-the-interest-rate-unchanged-at-45-percent/
Remarks by the Governor of the Bank of Israel at the press briefing on monetary policy held today at the Bank of Israel
https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/remarks-by-the-governor-of-the-bank-of-israel-at-the-press-briefing-on-monetary-policy-held-today-at-the-bank-of-israel-38/
https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/the-monetary-committee-decides-on-september-29-2025-to-leave-the-interest-rate-unchanged-at-45-percent/
Remarks by the Governor of the Bank of Israel at the press briefing on monetary policy held today at the Bank of Israel
https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/remarks-by-the-governor-of-the-bank-of-israel-at-the-press-briefing-on-monetary-policy-held-today-at-the-bank-of-israel-38/
www.boi.org.il
Remarks by the Governor of the Bank of Israel at the press briefing on monetary policy held today at the Bank of Israel | בנק ישראל…
Remarks by the Governor of the Bank of Israel at the press briefing on monetary policy held today at the Bank of Israel (38) | בנק ישראל - הבנק המרכזי של ישראל
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Currently Meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House – Still Photos
Attached photo credits: Avi Ohayon (GPO)
Attached photo credits: Avi Ohayon (GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Phone Call with the Qatari Prime Minister:
"Mr. Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike.
I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris.
I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president.
I know your leadership has grievances against Israel and Israel has grievances against Qatar, from support for the Muslim Brotherhood to how Israel is portrayed on Al Jazeera to support for anti Israel sentiment on collage campuses.
I welcome the President's idea to establish a trilateral group to address both our countries outstanding grievances."
"Mr. Prime Minister, I want you to know that Israel regrets that one of your citizens was killed in our strike.
I want to assure you that Israel was targeting Hamas, not Qataris.
I also want to assure you that Israel has no plan to violate your sovereignty again in the future, and I have made that commitment to the president.
I know your leadership has grievances against Israel and Israel has grievances against Qatar, from support for the Muslim Brotherhood to how Israel is portrayed on Al Jazeera to support for anti Israel sentiment on collage campuses.
I welcome the President's idea to establish a trilateral group to address both our countries outstanding grievances."
Link for Live Broadcast of Statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House
https://www.youtube.com/live/tP0Hf_anQpU
https://www.youtube.com/live/tP0Hf_anQpU
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Statement with President Donald Trump in the White House:
“Mr. President,
First I want to thank you for graciously hosting me once again in the White House. And second, I want to thank you for your friendship and for your leadership.
From Jerusalem to Tehran, from the Golan Heights to Gaza, you've proven time and again what I've said many times. You are the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. And, Mr. President, you and I both know it's not even close.
While you focus at home on making America great again, your leadership abroad is changing the world for the better, ending wars and advancing peace. I believe that today we're taking a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East, and I think beyond the Middle East, very important Muslim countries.
I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas' military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.
We would not have achieved this turning point without the courage and sacrifice of our incredibly brave soldiers. They fight like lions to defend the people of Israel, and they serve on the front line in the war between civilization and barbarism.
Mr. President, when our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder, we achieve the impossible.
Just a few months ago, in Operation Rising Lion and Operation Midnight Hammer, we struck a decisive blow against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. Your bold decision to send those B2s made the region safer and the world safer.
Now, under your leadership, we're taking the next step to win the war and expand the peace. Your plan is consistent with the five principles my government set for the end of the war and the day after Hamas.
Everybody asks, "What is your plan for the day after Hamas?"
Here's our plan. Passed it in the cabinet.
All our hostages, both those who are alive and those who died, all of them will return home immediately.
Hamas will be disarmed.
Gaza will be demilitarized.
Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter for the foreseeable future.
And lastly, Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.
If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr. President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the release of all our hostages within 72 hours.
The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza. I appreciate your willingness to lead the body, Mr. President. I really appreciate it because you have a lot of things to do and this is important. And it reflects the confidence that this will give everyone, that things will be followed up on all the commitments made. The fact that you're taking this on, I think, helps a lot to make sure that everything flows in the direction that we want.
Now, if this international body succeeds, we will have permanently ended the war. Israel will conduct further withdrawals linked to the extent of disarmament and demilitarization, but will remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future.
I think we should understand that we're giving everybody a chance to have this done peacefully. Something that will achieve all our war objectives without any further bloodshed.
But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself.
This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done. All these goals must be achieved, because we didn't fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again and again and again with these horrific massacres.
Mr. President, I was encouraged by
“Mr. President,
First I want to thank you for graciously hosting me once again in the White House. And second, I want to thank you for your friendship and for your leadership.
From Jerusalem to Tehran, from the Golan Heights to Gaza, you've proven time and again what I've said many times. You are the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. And, Mr. President, you and I both know it's not even close.
While you focus at home on making America great again, your leadership abroad is changing the world for the better, ending wars and advancing peace. I believe that today we're taking a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East, and I think beyond the Middle East, very important Muslim countries.
I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas' military capabilities, end its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.
We would not have achieved this turning point without the courage and sacrifice of our incredibly brave soldiers. They fight like lions to defend the people of Israel, and they serve on the front line in the war between civilization and barbarism.
Mr. President, when our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder, we achieve the impossible.
Just a few months ago, in Operation Rising Lion and Operation Midnight Hammer, we struck a decisive blow against Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program. Your bold decision to send those B2s made the region safer and the world safer.
Now, under your leadership, we're taking the next step to win the war and expand the peace. Your plan is consistent with the five principles my government set for the end of the war and the day after Hamas.
Everybody asks, "What is your plan for the day after Hamas?"
Here's our plan. Passed it in the cabinet.
All our hostages, both those who are alive and those who died, all of them will return home immediately.
Hamas will be disarmed.
Gaza will be demilitarized.
Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter for the foreseeable future.
And lastly, Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.
If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr. President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the release of all our hostages within 72 hours.
The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza. I appreciate your willingness to lead the body, Mr. President. I really appreciate it because you have a lot of things to do and this is important. And it reflects the confidence that this will give everyone, that things will be followed up on all the commitments made. The fact that you're taking this on, I think, helps a lot to make sure that everything flows in the direction that we want.
Now, if this international body succeeds, we will have permanently ended the war. Israel will conduct further withdrawals linked to the extent of disarmament and demilitarization, but will remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future.
I think we should understand that we're giving everybody a chance to have this done peacefully. Something that will achieve all our war objectives without any further bloodshed.
But if Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself.
This can be done the easy way or it can be done the hard way, but it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done. All these goals must be achieved, because we didn't fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again and again and again with these horrific massacres.
Mr. President, I was encouraged by