UN General Assembly
2024

And make no mistake: the conflicts in the region are deeply intertwined. Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed this assembly. His core message was that we all have to choose - either we are with Israel, or we are with Iran and its proxies. He also stated that there could only be peace once Hezbollah and Hamas were totally defeated. President, We have seen this film before. I didn't like the ending. 22 years ago, in response to the terrorist attacks on this very city, another leader stated that we were either with him, or with the terrorists. This division into a simplistic notion of black and white, leaving no space for nuance and complexity, let alone impartiality, and with an excessive trust in military force alone, is utterly dangerous. And indeed - it did not end well. We need to learn from past mistakes. However, President, in every crisis lies an opportunity. I remain convinced that there is no credible alternative for lasting peace other than a two-state solution.