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Israel’s Bennet makes first speech to UN

Contrary to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett chose to deliver a straightforward, calm and gimmick-free first speech to the General Assembly.
Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 27, 2021 at U.N. headquarters in New York City.

A complex task awaited Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in preparing his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 27, his first appearance on the international stage since taking office in June. One could describe it as a paradoxical task: Bennett was supposed to be as much as possible like his predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, but at the same time as little as possible like Netanyahu’s controversial alter ego “Bibi”. He had to step into the gigantic shoes of Netanyahu's impassioned fire-and-brimstone speeches to the UN, but to forego the childish gimmicks, boastful threats, and  antagonism that he generated among many.

One of Netanyahu’s most impressive strong points was (is) his rhetorical ability and charisma, as expressed in international speeches that, to many Israelis, positioned him as a perfect orator and English-language wordsmith, and the most effective advocate the people of Israel have had in 3,000 years. Without exaggeration.

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