Benjamin Netanyahu found himself surrounded by a chorus of dissent from all sides during his UN visit. The opposition was not a single voice, but a multi-layered symphony of disapproval coming from diplomats, the public, and even a key political ally.
Inside the UN, the dissent was formal and silent: a mass walkout by over 100 diplomats. This was the voice of the international establishment registering its profound disagreement with his policies.
Outside on the streets, the dissent was loud and passionate: thousands of protesters in Times Square. This was the voice of the people, a grassroots rejection of the war and the humanitarian crisis it has caused.
And from the political right in America, the dissent was strategic and specific: Donald Trump’s public warning against West Bank annexation. This was the voice of a powerful ally drawing a clear red line. Faced with opposition from every quarter, Netanyahu’s defiant speech was a roar against this rising chorus.