Selective law and convenient outrage

On 11 March 2026 two statements emerged from the international system that together reveal more about contemporary diplomacy than any solemn lecture on international law. First, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Iran for missile and drone attacks across the Gulf and for actions affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. On that same day, several Muslim-majority states issued a strongly worded statement condemning Israel for restricting access to Masjid al-Aqsa, one of Islam’s most sacred sites. Placed side by side, the two responses expose the striking inconsistency and absence of principle that now characterise much of contemporary international diplomacy. In the Security Council chamber, there were votes, urgency and a binding resolution. On the question of […]