Congressmembers urge UN to remove official over antisemitic comments

Members of Congress are calling for the removal of a UN Palestinian rights official over antisemitic comments exposed by The Times of Israel.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who is tasked with investigating Israeli activities in the Palestinian territories, has a history of antisemitism, but has not issued a clear apology or faced any repercussions from the UN.

A member of a UN Commission of Inquiry into Israel, Miloon Kothari, has also made antisemitic statements and remained in his position.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and High Commissioner Volker Turk, 11 US lawmakers from both parties say, “Enough is enough.”

No one should get a free pass for engaging in #antisemitism – including at the U.N.

Today, I led my colleagues in calling on the U.N. to remove Special Rapporteur Albanese from her post following her refusal to take accountability for her antisemitic comments. pic.twitter.com/2jyzJJHRU4

— Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) January 24, 2023

“You have stated that ‘there is no room for antisemitism in the UN,’ but it seems you have room for Special Rapporteur Albanese and others who have repeatedly made statements that are antisemitic,” the letter says.

“Failure to take meaningful action on repeated instances of antisemitism by UN officials undermines the UN’s credibility. “We urge you to demonstrate that the UN is capable of genuinely addressing antisemitism by removing Ms. Albanese from her post,” the Congress members say.