DR did not join the boycott against Netanyahu at the UN despite recognizing Palestine

A total of 77 countries boycotted the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the General Assembly of the United Nations, in protest of the military offensive in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it has generated.

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Among those absent were Israel’s Arab neighbors, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as Saudi Arabia, and nations from different regions such as Spain, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Iran, Turkey, and Indonesia. The Dominican Republic, however, did not join the boycott. Although it recognizes the Palestinian state in its foreign policy, its delegation remained in the plenary during Netanyahu’s intervention, aligning itself with the countries that chose to listen. The position contrasts with that of several Latin American governments, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua, who left the room or did not attend. Divisions also occurred in the Caribbean: while Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda joined the protest, other states decided to remain present. In his speech, Netanyahu rejected the genocide accusations, defended military operations in Gaza, and questioned international recognition of Palestine, which he linked to Hamas terrorism. The empty seats in the hall reflected the growing fracture of the international community in the face of the conflict. The Dominican Republic’s decision demonstrates its diplomatic balancing strategy: maintaining recognition of Palestine without severing cooperation ties with Israel in areas such as technology, agriculture, and security.