The US President Donald Trump often appears, when he expresses his positions, policies, and opinions, as if he is living in a private world of his own – similar to a virtual world that has no connection with reality.
Trump’s speech before the UN General Assembly, in an extremely bizarre way, blatant fallacies and complete disregard for facts that the whole world knows.
Trump harshly criticised the countries that recognised the State of Palestine and considered such recognition a “reward for the atrocities of Hamas, including the October seventh attack.” He said that these countries, by recognising Palestine, “encourage the continuation of the conflict and give very big rewards to Hamas terrorists for their barbaric actions.”
What Trump said is an insult to all the countries of the world. With the exception of a few states, the overwhelming majority of countries in the world already recognise the State of Palestine. For Trump to accuse all these countries of supporting and encouraging what he considers ‘terrorism’ is a major insult.
More importantly, Trump completely ignores a fundamental truth. He ignores the fact that the establishment of the Palestinian state – not just recognition of it – is not an issue related to Hamas or others, nor to any specific developments. It is a historical, legitimate, and established Palestinian right, affirmed by all UN resolutions.
Trump, who devoted a part of his speech to condemning recognition of Palestine and to denouncing what he called the barbaric actions of Hamas, did not utter a single word about the war crimes and brutal genocide committed by Israel that have horrified the entire world – as if these crimes were a trivial matter, not worthy of mention. This is unworthy of a great power that claims to lead the world. Trump also devoted part of his speech to mocking the UN, belittling and disparaging its role.
Everyone in the world knows that the UN does not in fact fulfil the supposed role of maintaining peace and security. But the fundamental issue that Trump ignored is that he himself, and his country, are the biggest reasons for the paralysis of the international organisation, preventing it from performing its role.
It is enough to recall the UN’s inability to stop the genocidal war in Gaza. The almost sole reason for this failure is Trump and his administration. Many times, Trump used the veto to block any Security Council resolution to stop the war, or any criticism or condemnation of Israel and its crimes.
Another matter in Trump’s speech personally provoked me as an Arab Muslim: his vicious attack on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. It is well known, of course, that the reason for his attack is that the London mayor criticises Trump and his policies. It is obvious that the UN is not at all a platform for settling personal scores.
What provoked me in Trump’s remarks is that, in pointing to what he considered a great danger represented by Khan, he said that Khan would soon apply Islamic Shari’ah law in London. Leave aside the fact that this statement is meaningless. What Trump said amounts to ridiculing Islamic Shari’ah and considering it a grave danger.
What business do you have with Islamic Shari’ah? This is our religion and our creed. You must respect it, just as we respect your religion and your beliefs.
The most astonishing thing, after all this and after all these fallacies in Trump’s speech, is that he presented himself as a “peacemaker” and claimed that he deserves, without doubt, the Nobel Peace Prize!
[by Sayed Zahra in Akhbar Al-Khaleej]
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque
