UN Staffers Back Francesca Albanese Amid Attacks by European Ministers

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UN Staffer Group Defends Special Rapporteur Against Disinformation Campaign

A group of current and former United Nations staffers has come to the defense of Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories. Albanese has faced criticism from pro-Israeli figures and European government officials, who have accused her of making anti-Semitic remarks.

Albanese’s comments were taken out of context by a pro-Israel NGO, UN Watch, which spread an edited clip of her speaking at the Doha Forum earlier this month. The NGO falsely claimed that Albanese had called Israel “the common enemy of humanity.” However, Albanese’s actual words were: “We now see that we as a humanity have a common enemy and the respect of fundamental freedoms is the last peaceful avenue, the last peaceful toolbox that we have to regain our freedom.”

The criticism from European officials has been widespread. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for Albanese’s resignation on February 23, while two days later, he issued a statement denouncing her remarks as “anti-Semitic.” Other European governments, including Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, and Italy, have also joined in the criticism.

In response to the attacks, hundreds of UN staffers from the United Staff for Gaza group released a statement defending Albanese. The group, which boasts nearly 2,500 members, is made up of current and former UN staffers who created it last July to defend Palestinians’ rights. The statement called for an end to “personal attacks, threats, intimidation, and disinformation targeting UN agencies, mandate-holders, and personnel.”

The United Staff for Gaza group’s statement also expressed support for Albanese and condemned the spread of misinformation about her comments. The group’s website stated that its initiative serves as a channel for colleagues around the world to speak out against mass atrocity crimes in the Gaza Strip and defend the UN Charter.

Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer and expert, was appointed the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories in May 2022. She has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and has advocated for Palestinian rights.

Source: Al Jazeera