Bennett kicks off UN speech, touting Israel as a ‘lighthouse in a stormy sea’

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett begins his UN General Assembly speech by touting Israel as a “lighthouse in a stormy sea, a beacon of democracy… eager to contribute to the world despite being in the toughest neighborhood on earth.”

“For way too long, Israel was defined by wars with our neighbors,” he says. “But this is not what Israel is about. This is not what the people of Israel are about. Israelis don’t wake up in the morning thinking about the conflict.

“Israelis want to lead a good life, take care of our families and build a better world for our children. Which means that from time to time, we might need to leave our jobs, say goodbye to our families and rush to the battlefield to defend our country.

“They should not be judged for it. Israelis remember the dark horrors of our past, but remain determined to look ahead, to build a brighter future.”