Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to New York City on Wednesday to deliver his 15th speech to the United Nations General Assembly, in an effort to project strength ahead of Israel’s upcoming election, scheduled for less than six weeks away. Although a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump had been a possibility in previous visits, no such encounter took place this time due to scheduling conflicts, including Trump’s commitment to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington and Netanyahu’s desire to return to Israel before Shabbat and the Sukkot holiday.
Netanyahu’s trip coincided with a closely contested election campaign, where political optics are particularly significant. Unlike former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who rarely remained abroad over Shabbat, Netanyahu has in the past stayed overseas during the Jewish Sabbath but opted against staying away this time. The absence of a joint appearance with Trump sparked some speculation of a political slight, but given their eight meetings since Trump’s inauguration—including one as recently as two months ago—claims of a “snub” were viewed by some as exaggerated.
Trump, who has largely refrained from involving himself in the Israeli elections, did share a media link to a recent poll showing Netanyahu’s coalition ahead of the opposition Zionist parties, a moment interpreted by observers as a subtle show of support. However, a more up-to-date poll reversed that trend, indicating a narrow lead for opposition parties excluding those led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha.
The significance of an additional public display with Trump is debatable, as past U.S. gestures, including recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in 2019 and unveiling the U.S.-brokered peace plan in 2020, failed to produce decisive electoral victories for Netanyahu. Furthermore, surveys suggest that Trump’s influence on Israeli public opinion has waned, with confidence in his commitment to Israel’s security dropping sharply this year.
In contrast, Netanyahu’s address to the UN on Thursday targeted domestic voters rather than international diplomats or global audiences. Historically, his UN speeches have varied in focus—from diplomatic appeals in 2011 opposing Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN, to taking public stances, such as the 2012 speech warning against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This year’s address was notable for being the first delivered during an Israeli election campaign, shifting its emphasis primarily toward convincing Israeli citizens ahead of the vote.
The setting of the UN General Assembly itself served as a backdrop for Netanyahu to portray himself as a leader confronting international criticism. Faced with hostility from world leaders and institutions, Netanyahu sought to demonstrate resilience at a forum often seen as adversarial toward Israel. This approach contrasts with earlier campaigns, such as in 2019, when images of Netanyahu with Trump and other world leaders underscored his diplomatic reach. Now, emphasizing opposition and defiance on the global stage may resonate more effectively with voters.
Netanyahu’s team promoted the speech, including highlighting his command of English in contrast to political rivals like Gadi Eisenkot, former military chief and candidate for the opposition. The prime minister evidently views the UN appearance as a critical campaign element, justifying the demanding transatlantic trip despite the lack of a high-profile bilateral meeting.
Throughout his tenure, Netanyahu has employed symbolic gestures during his UN addresses, ranging from presenting Nazi-era documents to denounce Holocaust denial, to silent protests against international inaction on Iranian threats, to visual displays of Middle East maps before normalization agreements. This year, without a distinct prop, the UN stage itself symbolized standing firm against global opposition.
Whether this strategy will influence voters remains uncertain. The election is heavily shaped by domestic concerns, including responsibility for the October 7 violence and debates over the ultra-Orthodox military draft. Nonetheless, Netanyahu’s choice to make a strenuous journey for the UN speech so close to Election Day suggests he believes it carries meaningful political weight.