Key point 1 of Hungary coverage

Netanyahu termed delegates who walked out at the start of his speech "moral cowards," inviting them to leave the hall if they shared that position (Index HU).

Key point 2 of Hungary coverage

He claimed that by striking Iran, Israel is also protecting countries whose leaders privately thank it for eliminating Iran's nuclear weapons, an assertion that HVG downplays due to the lack of evidence of such an arsenal.

Key point 3 of Hungary coverage

New York police arrested several protesters outside the UN headquarters, including actress Susan Sarandon, as Netanyahu also targeted New York Mayor, Zohran Mamdani (444).

Netanyahu calls the genocide accusation "the biggest lie of the century" at the UN, before a half-empty hall - Hungary Perspective

DOMINANT ANGLE

Budapest took away from Netanyahu's speech the defense of Israel as collective protection for the countries absent from the room, more than the judicial controversy over the genocide.

Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media

KEY POINTS

01
Netanyahu termed delegates who walked out at the start of his speech "moral cowards," inviting them to leave the hall if they shared that position (Index HU).
02
He claimed that by striking Iran, Israel is also protecting countries whose leaders privately thank it for eliminating Iran's nuclear weapons, an assertion that HVG downplays due to the lack of evidence of such an arsenal.
03
New York police arrested several protesters outside the UN headquarters, including actress Susan Sarandon, as Netanyahu also targeted New York Mayor, Zohran Mamdani (444).

ANALYSIS

Budapest, September 25, 2026. The Hungarian press is extensively covering the chaotic scene that followed Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the high-level debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday. Index reports that applause mixed with whistles, before several hundred delegates left the room, leaving most seats empty. Assembly President Halilur Rahman had to recall the delegates to order several times. The Israeli Prime Minister called these delegates "moral cowards," saying: "If there are still moral cowards who have not left the room, I ask you to do so now."

According to the MTI dispatch reported by HVG and Index, Netanyahu defended the strike against Iranian nuclear facilities as "one of the easiest decisions" he had to make as head of government. He claimed that by defending itself, Israel is also protecting several countries whose delegations left the room, adding that some of their leaders thank him "privately" for "eliminating Iranian nuclear weapons." However, HVG nuances this statement, recalling that there is no actual evidence that Iran had nuclear weapons, as the Israeli-American strikes damaged Iranian nuclear facilities without establishing a weapons program.

444, citing the BBC, specifies that Netanyahu also rejected accusations of genocide against Israel in Gaza and attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accuses of undermining the sense of security in the Jewish community in the city. Telex adds that the Prime Minister targeted Qatar and Turkey, accused of financing disinformation campaigns against Israel, and recalls that Netanyahu remains under domestic pressure ahead of the October 27 legislative elections, the first in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

In front of the UN headquarters, the New York police arrested several protesters opposed to Netanyahu's visit, including Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon and actress Hannah Einbinder, according to 444.

Hungary

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