Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu gave a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday. Netanyahu showcased a map that showed India as a blessing compared to many other countries in the region that he showed in another map as a curse. He also made it clear that Israel was not going to end the war against Hamas unless its objectives were met.
Demonstrating the two maps, Netanyahu contrasted the “blessing” of development for Israel and its partners like India with the curse map of Iran’s influence in the region, warning that “Iran seeks to impose its radicalism beyond the Middle East and threatens the entire world.” The world should “join Israel in stopping Iran’s nuclear weapons”, he said, calling on the UN to snap back sanctions against Iran.
The first map showed the India-Middle East Europe economic corridor that will pass from India, through Israel and Saudi Arabia–it is being pitched as a great civilisational linkage between the continents and a major economic opportunity for the nations involved. On the other hand, he pointed out how Iran had created a region full of terrorism. Netanyahu also advocated to normalise ties with Saudi Arabia by taking forward the Abraham Accords.
The ‘Curse’ map showcased Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen painted in black. While, the ‘Blessing’ map showed Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and India painted in green. Netanyahu also went on to explain that the ‘Blessing’ map shows Israel and its partners forming a land bridge connecting Asia and Europe between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. “Across this bridge, we will lay rail lines, energy pipelines, and fibre optic cables, which will serve the betterment of 2 billion people.” he said.
The India Middle East Economic Corridor
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a planned economic corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe. The corridor is a proposed route from India to Europe through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Greece.
The project was launched to bolster transportation and communication links between Europe and Asia through rail and shipping networks and is also seen as an important counter for India and its allies to take on the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. The memorandum of understanding document has only mapped out the potential geography of a corridor and will compete against the current trade route going through the Suez Canal. The project has been currently delayed due to the ongoing Israel–Hamas war.
Marking India in the green Netanyahu showcased India’s growing importance to Israel and its evolving relationship with the middle eastern nation. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi India and Israel have gotten closer especially in the defence and tech sectors. The Economic Corridor will surely play a pivotal role to take the relationship to the next level.
Netanyahu’s Attack on Iran
Showing both the maps, Netanyahu said, “On the one hand, there is a bright blessing, a future of hope, and on the other hand, a dark future of despair is there.”
The Prime Minister said that Iran seeks to impose its radicalism well beyond the Middle East and that’s why it funds terror networks on five continents and builds ballistic missiles for nuclear warheads to threaten the entire world. Stating that if you think this dark map is only a curse to Israel, Netanyahu added, “Then you should think again, because Iran’s aggression, if it’s not checked, will endanger every single country in the Middle East and many countries in the rest of the world.”
During his speech, Netanyahu issued a strong warning to Iran, saying, “If you strike us, we will strike you,” asserting that no part of Iran was beyond Israel’s reach. Netanyahu also called for an end to what he termed “Jew-hatred” and urged them to accept Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. While addressing the UN, he also assured that Israel will continue taking on Hezbollah until all their objectives are met and added that it has every right to remove the threat and return its citizens to their homes safely.
The address came as tensions in the middle east continue to rise. Israel is currently clashing with Iran backed Hamas and Hezbollah. The Economic corridor seems to be an extremely fruitful proposition for all countries involved, but there are some big roadblocks in its way. It remains to be seen how India will navigate its relations with its allies and neighbours to get the corridor functioning.