UN General Assembly: A History of Gimmicks, Protests, and Economic Boost
The UN General Assembly has a long history of notable moments, from political statements to unexpected incidents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently used the platform for attention-grabbing tactics, such as his 2012 "bomb" poster illustrating the Iranian nuclear threat and his recent use of pagers to recall the Hezbollah pager attack. However, his attempts to command attention at the UN have sometimes fallen flat, with reports of him speaking to a half-empty hall this year as many delegates protested the war in Gaza.
Brazil holds the unique tradition of always being the first nation to speak at the General Assembly's opening, a practice stemming from its willingness to take the first slot in the UN's early years. Following Brazil, the US President or Secretary of State typically addresses the assembly. This segment has seen memorable moments, including Donald Trump's 2017 "Rocket Man" speech directed at North Korea's leader and his subsequent praise for Kim Jong Un, met with laughter from the audience.
The General Assembly allocates 15 minutes per country, but historical exceptions abound. Fidel Castro famously spoke for nearly five hours in 1960, and Muammar Gaddafi spoke for about an hour and a half in 2009, leading to his interpreter collapsing from exhaustion. The assembly's annual themes, such as "Restoring Trust, Rebuilding Bridges and Reimagining Partnerships" this year, are often described as vague and poetic, making it difficult to gauge their practical impact.
Israel's relationship with the UN has been strained, particularly since the 1975 resolution equating Zionism with racism. Then-Israeli Ambassador Chaim Herzog famously tore up the resolution, declaring it a "piece of paper." The presence of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has also been a recurring theme, with Yasser Arafat's 1974 appearance, where he carried an olive branch and a pistol, and the US's refusal to grant visas to Palestinian delegates, leading to Mahmoud Abbas speaking via video this year.
Beyond the political discourse, the UN General Assembly provides a significant economic boost to New York City, estimated to be worth nearly $5 billion annually. The influx of delegates during the September session creates a "holiday season" for local hotels and businesses. The assembly has also been the stage for historical curiosities, such as the mystery surrounding Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's shoe on the table in 1960.
