Olaf Scholz is among the least popular politicians in the West — and it’s easy to see why. Compare his rote, heavily scripted remarks on Israel with Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim’s fluent defence of Palestinian rights. There are strong arguments to be made for either side, but the contrast in style and substance between the two leaders left one clear winner.

“You cannot find a solution by being so one-sided and erasing 60 years of atrocities,” said Ibrahim. “The solution is not just releasing the hostages. What about the settlements”? Meanwhile, in his inimitably robotic manner, Scholz repeated for the umpteenth time that Israel had a right to defend itself and that Germany supported a two-state solution. No wonder Germans are clamouring for an election…