NO JEWS, NO NEWS is a common cliché in the Middle East. A lot goes wrong in that part of the world that does not attract the attention of other parts of the world except or until Israel gets involved. The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began a week ago, providing as usual, a speech making platform for nations’ heads of governments. On this platform, they are at liberty to talk about any subject of their choice and to set any agenda on any subject conceivable, thus providing a basis for the world to run along the same mandate, not necessarily by consensus but often for political correctness. This year’s platform, it seems, was prepared for a specific purpose: to make a strong statement to the nation of Israel indirectly, on the basis of a major contemporary event.

The way the platform has been used since the opening of the UNGA 80 has clearly shown an orchestrated attempt at bashing Israel by various country speakers, revealing deep-seated dislike for Israel even when the reasons given remain putative. The UN was created originally in 1945 to prevent the recurrence of another devastating world war, such as World War II, and to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations between nations. It was established to achieve international cooperation in solving global problems, and serve as a forum to harmonise the actions of nations. Events of the past one week, however, have shown that the UN today is deviating from those original ideas and is far from being truly serious about peacemaking.

The subject matter of the recognition of the state of Palestine took the centre stage, with nation after nation endorsing or recognising the status of Palestine as a nation, a proposition that is not expected to end in mere proclamation but would lead to events that would unfold in many unpredictable ways in the future. Let it be made clear from the outset that this write-up is not against the recognition of the status of Palestine state. What is important is to recognise how that recognition leads to actualisation.

Emmanuel Macron, the hero or arrowhead of the proclamation or recognition was probably overrated in his leading role. The flip side of the recognition of the state of Palestine was obviously to send a strong message to Israel, particularly on Gaza.

But, here is the thing. While Macron’s statement was applauded for officially recognising Palestine, it indirectly gave approval to the Hamas authorities since it did not berate or condemn the terrorist rule in strong terms or call it to disarm and step down from its rule. A comparative look at YouTube channel viewership of Macron’s speech and that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed something rather interesting. While a lot of attendees in the UN Assembly hall, probably less than the total seating capacity of over 1,800 people, watched and listened to Macron, a vast majority of those in the hall before Netanyahu’s speech walked out as soon as he was called to the podium. A check on YouTube 11 hours after Netanyahu’s speech showed over 256,000 views, while Macron’s speech showed a mere 17,000 views after three days of his speech. The comparison is only on YouTube, not including many other online video channels or platforms. In essence, it is interesting to ask if the walkouts on Netanyahu’s speech and the applause for Macron’s within the UN Assembly Hall actually made any difference to the wider global community in terms of audience.

The Gaza-Israeli conflict may have marked a watershed in the relevance of the UN in the past week. While those recognising Palestine made big headlines, less condemnation was heard about Hamas and their atrocities. The unfolding Palestinian issue will very likely further diminish countries’ reckoning with the UN henceforth. Many countries’ leaders and non-state actors who spoke did not have kind words for the UN. And these cannot be ignored or taken lightly.

Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, was at the UNGA2025. “The UN is a disastrous undertaking, marked by 80 years of fiasco, missed opportunities and structural failures,” he said. His country has suffered under the influence of France until very recently. Even with the removal of direct influence from France, Burkina Faso still laments the indirect negative influence, especially in the area of insecurity. According to Ouédraogo, “the terrorists are auxiliaries of predatory foreign armies, including France.” From a former colony, diplomatically, this was not complimentary. The façade from President Macron was all too glaring. He left the riots, the collapse of government and the floundering economy at home in France, and the increasing rejection of France by its former colonies in Africa, only to make his UN speech of meddling with Israel – Palestinian crisis his priority.

Undoubtedly, Palestine must have a government with a democratically elected leader, a constitution and a parliament that governs a designated area with its own legal and justice system like Israel. What it does not deserve is the continued influence of terrorists over its affairs. But, on Gaza in particular and Palestine in general, it is shocking that the UN and many world leaders are pushing one-sided narratives on Israel. The narratives seem to omit a balanced perspective on peace as it misses out some core ingredients needed in the peace process between Palestine and Israel. Any leader or political actor that emphasises peace and more peace, regardless of the country, deserves great respect and great salute. A few of them will be mentioned here for their unapologetic statements on the Gaza-Israeli crisis, how to resolve them and what should happen in the course of recognising the Palestinian state.

Of all the countries that intend to or have already signified their support for Palestine, Singapore made about the most logical, wise and fair decisions. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, specifically stated that Singapore refuses to recognise Palestinian state until certain conditions are met⁠. In his own reckoning, Singapore will only recognise a Palestinian state when it has an effective government that accepts Israel’s right to exist and renounces terrorism. He criticised Hamas for rejecting these principles and announced sanctions on Israeli settler groups, saying extremists on both sides undermine the two-state solution. Prabowo Subianto is Indonesia’s president. “We must also recognise, we must also respect and we must also guarantee the safety and security of the state of Israel. Only then can we have real peace.” This statement is from Subianto, president of a country with the largest population of Muslims, over 200 million people.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni refused to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. In her courageous statements, Meloni asserted that political pressure should be mounted on Hamas because “Hamas started this war.” According to her, “to consider the recognition of Palestine in the absence of one state that meets sovereignty requirements does not solve the problem, does not produce tangible, concrete results to the Palestinians after which it is said.” However, the recognition of Palestine can be an effective tool of political pressure… But we must also understand about who in this sense. I think the main political pressure should be put on Hamas because Hamas started this war. And it is Hamas that prevents the war from ending, refusing to release the hostages. She made a case that “the recognition of Palestine must be subject to two conditions: the release of hostages and, of course, the exclusion of Hamas from any dynamic of government within Palestine, because we need to understand what the priorities are. I am not against the recognition of Palestine, but we have to give ourselves the right priorities.

I think an initiative like this can also find the consensus of the opposition and certainly does not find the consent of Hamas and perhaps does not find the consent of others, of Islamic extremists. But it should find acceptance in the people with common sense.”