Prime Minister Yair Lapid — Address to the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (22 September 2022)

Conducting this orchestra of hate, is Iran. For more than forty years now, in the town squares and on the streets of Iran, demonstrators have been photographed burning Israeli and American flags. [… …] This is a regime that systematically deals with hatred.

Iran's regime hates Jews, hates women, hates gay people, hates the West. They hate and kill Muslims who think differently, like Salman Rushdie and Mahsa Amini. Their hate is a way of life. It is a way to preserve their oppressive rule.

There is only one member-state in the UN that openly states its wish to destroy another member-state. Iran has declared time and time again that it is interested in the "total destruction" of the State of Israel. [… …]

The only way to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, is to put a credible military threat on the table. And then — and only then — to negotiate a Longer and Stronger deal with them. It needs to be made clear to Iran, that if it advances its nuclear program, the world will not respond with words, but with military force. [… …] We will do whatever it takes: Iran will not get a nuclear weapon.

Israel's economic and military strength allows us to protect ourselves but it also allows us something else: To strive for peace with the entire Arab world. And with our closest neighbors — the Palestinians. An agreement with the Palestinians, based on two states for two peoples, is the right thing for Israel's security, for Israel's economy and for the future of our children.

Despite all the obstacles, still today a large majority of Israelis support the vision of this two state solution. I am one of them.

We have only one condition: That a future Palestinian state will be a peaceful one. That it will not become another terror base from which to threaten the well-being, and the very existence of Israel. That we will have the ability to protect the security of all the citizens of Israel, at all times. [… …] You can ask us to live according to the values in the UN Charter, but you cannot ask us to die for them.

Israel seeks peace with our neighbors. All our neighbors. We are not going anywhere. The Middle East is our home. We are here to stay. Forever. And we call upon every Muslim country — from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia — to recognize that, and to come talk to us. Our hand is outstretched for peace. [… …]

The State of Israel is the only country in the world founded by a book. The Book of Books. The Tanach. That book and the principles of liberal democracy require us to stretch out our hand in peace. Our history requires us to be clear-eyed and very careful.