Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday displayed two maps, describing India as a “blessing” and Iran as a “curse,” amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The map titled ‘The Curse’ featured Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen colored in black, while the map labeled ‘The Blessing’ highlighted Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and India in green, news agency ANI reported.
Speaking at the 79th UNGA debate, Netanyahu said, “The Blessing map shows Israel and its Arab 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.”
In contrast he said that the second map is a “curse,” depicting an arc of terror that Iran has orchestrated, spanning from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean region. “Iran’s malignant arc has shut down international waterways. It cuts off trade, destroys millions of nations from within, and inflicts misery on millions,” he added.
He further continued that it would be a mistake to assume that Iran’s dark influence is limited to Israel alone, “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 because Iran seeks to impose its radicalism well beyond the Middle east.
“That’s why it funds terror networks on five continents and builds ballistic missiles for nuclear warheads to threaten the entire world,” Netanyahu said.
“On one hand, there is a bright blessing, a future of hope and on the other hand, a dark future of despair is there,” he added.