It began on Monday 22 September with the French President’s solemn speech on the recognition of Palestine, in accordance with the peace and security plan drawn up by Saudi Arabia and France. This initiative was followed by ten other countries*, bringing the total number of UN member states recognising Palestine as a sovereign state to 158 (out of a total of 193). Faced with the urgent need to stop the carnage in Gaza and free the hostages, ‘the time has come,’ Emmanuel Macron repeated in his speech.

The contrast was striking with US President Donald Trump’s speech the following day. Lambasting the UN institution he despises and blames for all evils (even its mechanical maintenance problems), he also launched into a vulgar and mendacious tirade against Europe, migrants and the climate crisis, which he considers ‘the greatest scam in the history of mankind’.

* Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, the United Kingdom and San Marino.

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