Ahead of the UN’s planned reappointment this Friday of pro-Hamas rapporteur Francesca Albanese, UN Watch’s Hillel Neuer took the floor of the Human Rights Council to display how her antisemitic behavior disqualifies her from serving the UN.
Shockingly, after the address to the Council, Neuer was rebuked by the Chair for using “personal attacks” against Albanese. However, the condemned language ironically came from Albanese herself, essentially reprimanding Neuer for merely reading out her own words.
Last week, Neuer spoke at the Council to invoke procedure 8/PRST/2, by which the Council must consider UN Watch’s dossier on Albanese’s persistent non-compliance with the UN’s Code of Conduct, and act upon it as appropriate.
Neuer also hand-delivered the official demand letter to Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber, formally invoking the urgent procedure to prevent Albanese’s reappointment. UN Watch is now calling on all member states to do the same.
As documented in UN Watch’s recent report, “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” Albanese has repeatedly made inflammatory and antisemitic statements that violate the principles of the Code of Conduct.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TO STOP FRANCESCA ALBANESE
UN Human Rights Council Debate, March 28
Hillel Neuer, UN Watch: Fighting racism and discrimination is the raison d’etre of the United Nations. In that spirit, the UN recently announced its first action plan to combat antisemitism. Is this a genuine commitment?
Before us now is a great test. Hatred of Jews is a mutating virus. It mobilizes hate by disguising itself as the highest virtue. Over history, Jews have been persecuted in the name of religion, racial science, nationalism, and anti-nationalism.
In this vein, a well-known person now invokes the language of human rights to spread hatred against Jews.
Consider:
• This person publicly declared that: “America is subjugated by the Jewish lobby.”
• This person accused Jews of bringing antisemitic attacks upon themselves.
• This person compared the Prime Minister of Israel to Adolf Hitler and Israel itself to the “Third Reich.”
• This person told the BBC: “The Israeli lobby is inside your veins.”
• This person told a Hamas conference of terrorists before they slaughtered a thousand Jews in a day: “You have a right to resist.”
• Therefore, this person has been condemned for antisemitism and Holocaust distortion by France, Germany, Canada, and the United States.
So who is this person? Not a fringe activist. She’s actually the human rights official this council appointed as its Special Rapporteur on Palestine. Her name is Francesca Albanese. Next week, you are being asked to appoint her.
Mr. President, no one who spreads antisemitism and whitewashes mass murder should speak for this Council or the United Nations. We urge you: Do not reappoint Francesca Albanese.
Thank you.
Chair: I would like to once again say that everyone has the right to express their opinions related to the report and activities of mandate holders, but all of this should remain within an acceptable framework in order to ensure that we have full respect during our discussions and especially no personal attacks against Special Rapporteurs.
