UN Official Engages with Anti-Semitic Content Criticizing ‘Jewish Billionaire Class
Controversial UN Official Likes Anti-Semitic Posts
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, has once again found herself in the midst of controversy.
A United Nations official “liked” two social media posts this week that denounced the “Jewish billionaire class,” in the latest example of controversial public activity from the anti-Israel official.
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, “liked” the two X posts from Norman Finkelstein, who posted them Monday apparently in response to University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill stepping down from her position after she faced backlash for her widely criticized congressional testimony on campus anti-Semitism.
“Make no mistake about it,” Finkelstein wrote in one post. “In order to stifle dissent from Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, the Jewish billionaire class has launched the most concerted assault on academic freedom in the history of our country.”
“The Jewish billionaire class must be stopped,” he said in another. “The student body at University of Pennsylvania must boycott classes from Day One of the Spring semester until and unless President Magill is reinstated.”
Finkelstein also wrote replies to both posts that condemned “Jewish supremacists,” though Albanese did not engage specifically with those replies.
Neither Albanese nor the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights responded to a request for comment.
This is not the first time Albanese has engaged in social media activity with questionable language directed toward Jewish people. In 2014, eight years before she began her role as special rapporteur, she said in a Facebook post that the United States was “subjugated by the Jewish lobby.” She distanced herself from that comment in a statement to the Times of Israel, which reported on it last year.
She has also made multiple controversial statements about Israel’s war on Hamas since the Oct. 7 terror attacks. Last month, she said that Israel, under international law, does not have a legal right to self-defense against Hamas-controlled Gaza. A little over a week later, she told an Australian outlet that Hamas was “entitled to embrace resistance” when she was asked whether there were things people in countries like Australia do not understand about the terror group.
Albanese said earlier this month that calling on Hamas to release the hostages it took during the attacks is “unacceptable” and “[puts] the onus to end the carnage in Gaza on the Palestinians, including those being slaughtered in Gaza.” She added that it is also a way of “justifying and deflecting the attention from the atrocities committed by the Israeli army in Gaza.”
What are the concerns raised by a UN official endorsing inflammatory and anti-Semitic content?
H billionaire class has unleashed its hounds on University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill.”
The posts, which included inflammatory language and conspiracy theories, received criticism from various individuals and organizations. The fact that a UN official would endorse such content raises concerns about impartiality and the commitment to fighting anti-Semitism within the organization.
This is not the first time that Francesca Albanese has been embroiled in controversy. She has a history of making inflammatory statements and supporting individuals and organizations known for their anti-Israel stance. Her actions undermine the credibility of the United Nations and its mission to promote peace and justice.
The UN must take swift and decisive action in response to these disturbing revelations. The organization should thoroughly investigate Francesca Albanese’s actions and hold her accountable for any violations of ethical conduct. At the very least, she should be removed from her position as the special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories.
By allowing individuals with obvious biases and a tendency towards anti-Semitism to hold key positions within the organization, the United Nations is undermining its own credibility and legitimacy. It is imperative that the UN recognizes and addresses this issue to ensure that its work is carried out with the highest level of integrity and impartiality.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the need for a broader conversation on how the United Nations addresses issues related to anti-Semitism. It is not enough to simply condemn anti-Semitic incidents. The organization must take proactive measures to combat anti-Semitism and promote understanding and tolerance between different religious and ethnic groups.
The United Nations has a responsibility to uphold its founding principles of promoting peace, protecting human rights, and advancing the well-being of all people. This can only be achieved by ensuring that its officials and representatives are committed to these principles and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct.
In conclusion, the endorsement of anti-Semitic posts by a United Nations official is deeply concerning and further erodes the credibility of the organization. The UN must take immediate action to address this issue and reassert its commitment to combating anti-Semitism. By doing so, it can reaffirm its role as a vital institution in promoting global peace and justice.
Now loading...