The world is at a dangerous tipping point. The war in Ukraine revealed a divide between Westerners and part of the rest of the planet, which refused to denounce Russia’s aggression. The conflict in the Middle East widens this divide, ingraining in the minds of many countries in the “global South” that the United States and its allies are hypocrites: being outraged when Moscow bombs civilians in Ukraine, but justifying the right of Israel to defend itself after the Hamas attack, even if it means shelling Gaza.
We can count on China, Russia and Iran to blow over the embers. Their objective: to weaken America and increase their influence with states already suspicious of the West. While Joe Biden visited Israel, Vladimir Putin was received with honors by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing. Moscow, relayed by the Chinese media, repeatedly repeats that Washington is the main responsible for the current crisis. But what solutions do they have to offer?
Russia and Iran seek to sow chaos. China, to strengthen its position in the Middle East, strategic for its oil supply. Presenting herself as a mediator, she did not see fit to condemn Hamas – just as she never condemned Moscow. And insists that Israel has “exceeded the limits of self-defense”. To avoid definitively losing the “South”, the “North” must imperatively demand that the Jewish state respect international law and take a new interest in the fate of the Palestinians.