Palestine at core as 150 countries gather at UN

CONFLICTS IN GAZA, UKRAINE AND SUDAN DOMINATE THE AGENDA AT NEW YORK, ALONG WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

- BY STEPHEN N.R.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addresses the 80th session of the UNGA in New York yesterday. (Right) Palestinian and Israeli flags and a dove with an olive branch, projected onto the Eiffel Tower, Paris, on Sunday.

The quest for a Palestinian state will dominate this year’s United Nations General Assembly high-level week, as leaders from more than 150 countries convene in New York against a backdrop of wars, divisions and deepening global crises.

The spotlight is firmly on Gaza, now in its second year of war, and on the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour said, “Palestine is going to be the huge elephant in this session,” with France and Saudi Arabia co-chairing a high-level meeting yesterday on implementing a two-state solution.

No visa for Mahmoud Abbas