The contentious UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has been granted a new three-year term. Various nations and organizations have criticized Albanese due to her history of anti-Semitic statements. Nonetheless, a panel established by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) reviewing grievances against Albanese was convinced by her “detailed explanation” that she was not anti-Semitic.
“We’re discussing one of the most blatant defenders of Hamas-related rhetoric. He openly claims that Israel has no right to defend itself,” UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer informed Fox News Digital. “This is a troubling indication of the current state of the United Nations.”
During a March 27, 2024 UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights Status of Palestinian Territories, emphasized the importance of the press conference. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
The UN Secretary-General will refrain from condemning public officials facing anti-Semitism allegations. We indicated we would issue a visa for the visit.
The UN has consistently challenged Albanese and has sought to reveal purported breaches of the Code of Conduct. On Friday, the entity delivered a list of statements from worldwide governments denouncing Albanese’s language. Among the nations issuing the statements were the United States, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Israel, Argentina, Germany, and the UK.
Moreover, before Albanese’s reappointment, the US mission to the United Nations forwarded a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opposing the renewal. The mission also shared a statement on X.
“We hold [Albanese] accountable for toxic anti-Semitism that demonizes Israel and supports Hamas. She blatantly breaches the UN Code of Conduct and is unfit for her role. Her reappointment indicates [the U.N.] tolerates anti-Semitic hatred and endorsement of terrorism,” stated the U.S. mission to the United Nations.
House Foreign Affairs Committee also addressed a letter to UNHRC President Jurg Lauber, expressing dissent against Albanese’s reappointment. In the letter, the committee asserted that Albanese’s rhetoric sullied the integrity of the United Nations system and her own role.
“Albanese has failed to use her position to uphold and justify her role as the UN Special Rapporteur, while simultaneously acting as an apologist for Hamas,” the House Foreign Affairs Committee declared.
On December 11, 2024, the special rapporteur on the human rights situation of Francesca Albanese, an occupied Palestinian territory, held a press conference at the United Nations European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Reuters/Pierre Alboui)
Republicans are attempting to prevent the reappointment of UN officials accused of anti-Semitism
In breach of its legal obligations under 8/PRST/2, Lauber did not communicate any grievances concerning Albanese to a committee that Neuer referred to as “toothless,” comprised of “Francesca Albanese’s Best Friend.”
Responding to complaints received by UN Observance in June and July 2024, the committee noted, “Some of her tweets may seem inconsistent with the Code of Conduct, and some might be considered anti-Semitic.” However, The committee reiterated that they were “reliable” due to Albanese’s “detailed explanation” asserting she was not in violation of the Code of Conduct.
Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, is set to hold a press conference on February 5, 2025, at the United Nations headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. (via Ritzau Scanpix/Ida Marie Odgaard
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Since assuming her role as Special Rapporteur in May 2022, Albanese has been accused of anti-Semitism. The Prevention League maintains a record of statements made by Albanese deemed anti-Semitic, with some dating back to 2014, well before her appointment.
In February 2024, Albanese faced backlash from France and Germany after French President Emmanuel Macron stated it was inappropriate to label the October 7 occurrence as “the largest anti-Semitic genocide of our century.” In her reply, she remarked, “The individuals on 7/10 were not murdered due to their Judaism, but were killed as a reaction to Israel’s oppression.”
France deemed her comments “even more scandalous” as they appeared to “justify” the attack, and according to the ADL, combating anti-Semitism and all forms of racism is fundamental to the UN’s formation.
