The Times of Israel April 3, 2025
UN set to reappoint rapporteur with history of antisemitism, anti-Israel vitriol

Francesca Albanese, known for her regular attacks on the Jewish state, is scheduled to have her 3-year appointment renewed Friday, amid push-back from U.S. and European officials.

The United Nations Human Rights Council is scheduled on Friday to reappoint an investigator into Israel with a history of antisemitism and vitriol against the Jewish state, amid fierce pushback from the U.S. and other opponents.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has been condemned by Jewish groups, Israel, the U.S. Canada, France, Germany and others. Lawmakers in the U.S. France, the UK and the Netherlands, and leading U.S. Jewish groups have come out against her reappointment.

Her opponents argue her conduct should disqualify her from the position, which the UNHRC says requires impartiality, integrity and objectivity

Albanese has called the criticism a smear campaign, and her supporters view her as an outspoken champion for the Palestinians That is no impartiality, integrity and objectivity

She has said, among other inflammatory statements
1. the “Jewish lobby” controls the U.S.
2. repeatedly compared Israelis to Nazis,
3. rejected antisemitic motivations for Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel,
4. blamed Israel for the invasion,
5. rejected Israeli security concerns,
6. and denied Israel’s right to self defense

The U.S. is the lead donor to the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which oversees Albanese’s office, contributing more than $36 million last year pull the funding