In his final UN address, Biden spotlights world conflicts, calls for peace

President Joe Biden used his final address before world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly to call for peace in Lebanon and an end to the conflict in Gaza — two prospects that analysts say are unlikely to happen soon.
“A full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” Biden said, referring to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. He said a diplomatic solution is still possible.
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza nears the one-year mark, Biden urged the parties to “finalize the terms” of a cease-fire and hostage deal that has been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council.
And on Ukraine’s efforts to fight off Russia’s invasion, Biden said, “We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away, and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine, not until Ukraine wins with a just and durable peace.”
But it was this line — about his decision not to seek reelection — that garnered the most applause from the packed audience, which included leaders from the body’s 193 member states.
“My fellow leaders, let us never forget: some things are more important than staying in power,” he said. “It’s your people.”
Yet several delegations did not react during Biden’s 25-minute address — notably, the delegations from China and from Russia, who did not clap for any of his remarks.
Mideast concerns top agenda
Gaza and the threat of spiraling conflict in that region topped Biden’s list of concerns as he made his appeal to world leaders. The U.S. position there is not in line with the rest of the General Assembly, which last week overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding that Israel end its occupation of Palestinian territory within the next 12 months. The United States was among the 14 no votes.
After the vote, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. vote is in line with Washington’s opposition to “unilateral measures that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.”
And on Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a “just peace” in Ukraine and warned of damaging trends around the world.
“We see this age of impunity everywhere in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa and beyond,” he said. “The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up. Civilians are paying the price in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities. It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on U.N. resolutions.
“Meanwhile, Gaza is a nonstop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region. Look no further than Lebanon. We should all be alarmed by the escalation.”
Biden, too, spotlighted these conflicts – and in Tuesday’s speech, looped Sudan and its escalating humanitarian crisis into the trifecta of urgent conflicts that need to end.
‘A call to resolve conflicts”
John Fortier, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA that it’s unlikely Biden will get his wish.
“It looks very much like these will be conflicts that will persist and will continue on past his presidency,” he said. “So, it was a call to resolve conflicts that have been plaguing him and his administration, for at least part of his administration. But it doesn’t seem like the end of either of these conflicts [Ukraine and Gaza] is likely to be within his reach.”
One thing is clear: As the Israel-Hamas conflict heads for its first anniversary, nearly 100 hostages are thought to remain in Hamas’ custody. The White House says bringing them home is its top priority and the key pillar of a deal to halt the fighting between Israel and the U.S.-designated terrorist group.
For months, Biden’s emissaries have raced between Qatar and Cairo to try to bring the sides together. And for months, they have appeared to be on the precipice of a deal, only for it to fall apart.
Kim Lewis contributed from Washington.