On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the discussions and deliberations of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly commenced, featuring heads of state and senior officials from 130 member nations. The session was held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” A wide range of critical issues was addressed, most notably: developments in the Middle East, the genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine, international conflicts in Africa, global security, artificial intelligence and global governance, climate change, development, challenges facing the international order, and other matters.

These meetings and speeches amount to little more than an annual political spectacle—a series of protocol-driven encounters and addresses that yield no tangible benefit for member states. They serve merely as hollow rhetoric designed to vent the pent-up anger of oppressed peoples whose nations belong to this dismal assembly. Rulers—most of whom are subordinate to major powers—deliver emotional speeches defending their peoples' causes simply to demonstrate their presence within an international order imposed upon the world. Meanwhile, the major powers view the opportunity for heads of state to address the UN General Assembly as a sign of recognition and submission to an international organization that steers the globe through the UN Security Council—a body controlled by only five of its member states. This UN General Assembly serves as a vehicle for imposing the dictates of the five major powers upon the rest of the world—states and peoples that are kept distracted by these meetings and the tedious annual speeches afforded to them at the UN General Assembly.

Among the addresses that garnered the most media attention at this year’s UN General Assembly was the speech by the UN Secretary-General, who stated, “Across the Middle East, conflicts are cascading. So-called ceasefires have amounted to little more than “lesser fires” – with civilians continuing to pay the price...Meanwhile violence, displacement and settlement expansion by Israel in the Occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the spectre of ethnic cleansing. We cannot allow the two-State solution to disappear before our eyes.” Yet, his words have no impact on the major powers or international politics, as they amount to nothing more than empty rhetoric.

Then there was the speech by the president of Iran, who described US policies as the “true cause of tension and bullying in the Middle East.” Despite this strident tone, the Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, revealed that Iran had conveyed a plan to the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days—in exchange for a halt to military actions, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and the termination of the US blockade on Iranian ports. President Pezeshkian stated that the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, supports this proposal. Regrettably, Iran’s politicians remain desperate to return to the negotiating table.

Another notable address was that of the Chinese President, who emphasized that “relations between major powers—specifically between the US and China—must be based on partnership rather than destructive competition.” China consistently reiterates its desire to act as an international partner to the US—an equal and peer—while steadily advancing in its competition with the US and its bid to share the global stage.

The address by the head of the Jewish entity’s government was also significant; dozens of diplomats walked out of the hall before he began speaking, protesting the systematic genocidal policies his government is perpetrating against Palestinians in Gaza. In his speech, he denied the genocide allegations, insisted on vigorously combating terrorism, and refused to back down from his criminal policies, declaring, “We’re going to win; we have no other choice.” He attacked Turkey, Britain, and France, showing no concern for anything other than garnering popularity and approval among his supporters within the Jewish entity to win upcoming elections, and courting America's conservative right to maintain the influence of the powerful Jewish lobby there.

Also prominent at the UN General Assembly meetings was the address by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which focused on the war in Ukraine and steadfast support for Ukrainians against Russia—linking this support to European national security issues. He also mentioned the security challenges facing the Jewish entity, noting that they do not justify its transgressions against civilians, and emphasized the importance of insisting on the necessity of a genuine push toward the two-state solution, rather than settling for theoretical slogans, to avoid eroding confidence in international legitimacy. He once again criticized settlement projects in the E1 area—a stance that encouraged subservient Arab states to adopt his positions, particularly the idea of ​​the two-state solution.

Meanwhile, French President Macron called for upholding an international order based on multilateralism, warning against a descent into the “law of the jungle.” Regarding Palestine, he stated, “The so-called peace in Gaza is a spectacle that shames us all,” and criticized “settler violence in the West Bank,” noting that it undermines the right of the people of Palestine to exist.

Thus, we see Britain and France leading efforts to curb the unchecked expansion of settlements in the West Bank and to bring down the Netanyahu government in order to scrap the E1 project and prevent the Jewish entity from discarding the concept of a “Palestinian state.”

As for officials from other Arab states, they echoed the British Prime Minister’s calls regarding the necessity of adhering to the two-state solution, halting the Netanyahu government's measures that lead to the displacement of West Bank residents, and ensuring the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the restoration of freedom of navigation in maritime straits. These words merely echo what they declare in their own countries, albeit in politer terms; while Netanyahu brazenly insists on continuing his aggressive and expansionist policies in the Middle East, Arab rulers speak only of peace, coexistence, restoring calm, and defusing tensions.

The statements made by Arab rulers amidst this UN-centered whirlwind did not deviate from the policies of major powers like the US, Britain, and France—such as prioritizing regional stability, as the US desires, and halting the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, as Britain and France desire. Yet, these agent leaders dare not leverage the considerable power at their disposal to assert their influence and enforce their decisions—as they ought to—instead of relying on others.

As for US President Trump, he spoke at length on various issues, but perhaps his most significant remark was that he could annihilate Iran if no agreement is reached; nevertheless, he predicted a deal would be struck following the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, 2026. Despite the heightened threats Trump has leveled against Iran, he is striving with all his might to bring the country back to the negotiating table, as he has no other viable option regarding it.