Netanyahu meets UN chief Guterres, says it must ‘change attitude toward State of Israel’

While attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with UN Secretary General António Guterres on Wednesday.

While Netanyahu spoke about Iran’s role in destabilizing the Middle East through it support of terror groups and its weapons transfers, he also challenged Guterres regarding the UN’s “baseless criticism of Israel.”

The prime minister told Guterres, “The time has come for the UN to condemn Iranian subversion and Palestinian terrorism against innocent civilians, and to refrain from its baseless criticism of Israel.”

Netanyahu noted that, while Israel’s image was improving in the Middle East due to the Abraham Accords and its diplomatic efforts around the world, the UN is “unaffected and remained steadfast in its hostility to Israel.”

He called on Guterres to “change the attitude of the organization’s institutions toward the State of Israel.”

The prime minister also spoke about his hope that the American-led effort to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia will “bear fruit soon.”

Netanyahu discussed U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan to establish an economic corridor from India to Europe, passing through the Arab Gulf states and Israel, saying that such an initiative “would contribute to strengthening the global economy.”

Guterres’ office confirmed that the two leaders discussed regional developments, and that UN chief reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution.

While at UNGA, Guterres also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, where they discussed “developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and support to the Palestinian people.”

Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly on Friday morning before returning back to Israel.