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GOP Hopefuls Praise Netanyahu’s UN Speech

Republican presidential hopefuls took it to Twitter on Thursday to praise Israeli Prime Minister’s speech to the UN General Assembly, in which he berated world powers for their “enthusiastic” celebration of the Iran nuclear deal.

“Powerful speech by @Netanyahu. The world cannot continue to be silent about Iran’s threats. We must stand w/ Israel,” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal tweeted, with an attached link to an online petition on his campaign website featuring Netanyahu’s silence glare at UN delegates.

“I’m proud to stand with PM @netanyahu and the nation of Israel. RT if you are too!” Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted. The tweet had over 300 retweets withing the first hour.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Netanyahu turned to the world powers and condemned them for their “repulsive hypocrisy” in remaining silent in the face of Iran’s Supreme Leader’s call to annihilate Israel. “The response from every one of you here, utter silence. Deafening silence,” he said before pausing and glaring at the delegates with a stern look for some 42 seconds.

At the beginning of the speech, Netanyahu recalled his first speech at the UN as Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, 31 years ago. At the time, his first speech was against a resolution sponsored by Iran to expel Israel from the United Nations. “I ended that first speech by saying: Gentlemen, check your fanaticism at the door,” the prime minister said. “More than three decades later, as the Prime Minister of Israel, I am again privileged to speak from this podium. And for me, that privilege has always come with a moral responsibility to speak the truth. So after three days of listening to world leaders praise the nuclear deal with Iran, I begin my speech today by saying: Ladies and Gentlemen, check your enthusiasm at the door.”

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