UN Facing “Its Worst Phase” Amid Geopolitical Rivalries, Says Maged Abdel Fattah

The United Nations is currently undergoing “its worst phase in decades” due to escalating geopolitical rivalries and the paralysis of the Security Council, according to Ambassador Maged Abdel Fattah, the Arab League’s Permanent Observer to the UN.

In a televised interview, Abdel Fattah stated that his assessment is based on over 35 years of experience within the UN system. He highlighted the growing East-West divide, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and noted that NATO’s push to expand eastward. He heightened tensions between the U.S., Russia, and China as factors contributing to unprecedented polarization within the Security Council.

“We are witnessing sharp partisanship within the Council, which has forced many states to bypass it and seek alternative mechanisms such as the UN General Assembly or the International Court of Justice (ICJ),” he noted.

Abdel Fattah revealed that UN member states are preparing for a special session of the General Assembly focused on the Palestinian question. However, instead of being held next week, the emphasis will shift to the second session of the Two-State Solution Conference, set to convene at UN headquarters on September 22 at the summit level. The first session took place from July 28 to 30.

He emphasized that the Security Council’s failure to address the Palestinian issue has led to three separate recourses to the ICJ. The first was to obtain an advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s occupation, which subsequently initiated the Two-State Solution Conference.

He added that South Africa and several other countries have also brought Israel before the Court, accusing it of enforcing apartheid policies against Palestinians—a case that remains under consideration. Meanwhile, the Arab League has submitted a separate case to the ICJ regarding Israel’s obstruction of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in fulfilling its humanitarian mandate.