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topicnews · October 24, 2024

UN Watch report calls for sanctions against Francesca Albanese

UN Watch report calls for sanctions against Francesca Albanese

A report from United Nations Watch on Wednesday called on democratic nations to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, accusing her of promoting anti-Semitism, supporting terrorism and spreading misinformation.

The report, titled “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Why Democracies Should Sanction UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese,” was presented to the UN Human Rights Council on October 23, 2024.

The report calls for Albanese’s removal and points to a series of statements and actions that violate UN impartiality standards and incite hatred against Israel and the Jewish people. UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights group, is calling for swift action to end its mandate.

The report cites numerous cases in which Albanese was accused of anti-Semitic rhetoric. In a 2014 Facebook post, Albanese claimed, “America is being subjugated by the Jewish lobby,” a classic anti-Semitic expression that suggests Jewish control of governments. In another incident in February 2024, she downplayed the atrocities of the October 7 Hamas massacre, dismissing it as a “response to Israel’s oppression,” even after Hamas targeted Jewish civilians in the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust had taken. France called her comments “scandalous” and “a disgrace,” while Germany condemned them as “appalling.”

The report also cites Albanese’s frequent comparisons of Israel to Nazi Germany. In July 2024, she reportedly compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler. In another case, she described Gaza as “the largest and most shameful concentration camp of the 21st century,” which, according to UN Watch, is a prime example of anti-Semitism as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, attends a side event during the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, March 26, 2024. (Source: REUTERS/DENIS BALIBOUSE)

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned Albanese, saying: “It is clear that she is unsuitable for this or any other position at the United Nations.” Also the U.S. special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt called her comments “blatant anti-Semitic rhetoric.”

In addition to her anti-Semitic rhetoric, Albanese openly supported terrorism, the report said. At a Hamas conference in 2022, she told the audience: “You have the right to resist,” an endorsement of violent resistance, the report said. It has repeatedly justified Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and portrayed them as legitimate responses to Israel’s actions. Albanese is quoted in the report as saying: “Palestinians have no room for disagreement other than violence.”

After the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Albanese wrote on social media that the violence needed to be “put into context,” suggesting that it was a natural result of Israeli policy. UN Watch stresses that its statements repeatedly absolve Hamas of responsibility while blaming Israel for inciting violence.

Denying atrocities and spreading misinformation

The report also accuses Albanese of denying or trivializing atrocities committed by Hamas. After the October 7 massacre, she expressed doubts about the authenticity of the media reports, saying: “It is very difficult to even understand, to gain clarity about what happened.” But let’s assume that what she said in telling the media what is true is…” This reluctance to condemn Hamas led to widespread outrage among diplomats and governments around the world.

In addition, Albanese has spread Hamas propaganda and false claims about Israeli actions. She falsely accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza and claimed that Israel “dropped munitions equivalent to two nuclear bombs” during its operations. UN Watch reports that her inflammatory statements, such as the claim that Israel created “killing zones in Gaza,” fueled anti-Semitism worldwide.

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Financial irregularities and conflicts of interest

The report also alleges that Albanese is under investigation for financial misconduct by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services. She is accused of illegally soliciting payments for her official UN work and receiving funds for a $20,000 trip to Australia sponsored by a pro-Hamas group. Additionally, the report notes that Albanese failed to disclose her husband’s previous employment with the Palestinian Authority, where he compared Palestinians to Jews who opposed the Nazis, raising concerns about her impartiality.

The report concludes by calling on all UN member states to adopt a resolution ending Albanese’s mandate and calling for her to be banned from entering the United States to speak at academic institutions. UN Watch also recommends targeted sanctions, including freezing her assets and lifting her diplomatic immunity so that victims of terror attacks can sue her in US courts.

Francesca Albanese, an Italian legal scholar who specializes in international human rights law, has been the UN special rapporteur on Palestinian human rights since 2022. Albanese has often defended that her statements are rooted in international law and human rights advocacy. But critics argue that her comments go beyond legitimate criticism of Israeli policies and incite hatred against the Jewish state and its people.

UN Watch is a Geneva-based human rights organization that monitors the activities of the United Nations, focusing on ensuring accountability and promoting adherence to the founding principles of the United Nations. The organization, founded in 1993, has been a vocal critic of what it sees as anti-Israel bias within the UN, particularly in bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council.

UN Watch regularly publishes reports, organizes events and engages in advocacy to highlight cases of injustice, with a particular focus on the disproportionate focus on Israel in international forums.

The organization also campaigns for human rights worldwide and draws attention to human rights violations in countries such as Iran, Venezuela and China. UN Watch’s efforts have won international recognition, even as its focus on Israel’s defense has led to polarizing unity, particularly in discussions of Middle East policy.

The full 60-page report can be found here.



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