Germany demands resignation of UN rights rapporteur Albanese over anti-Israel comments

Screen capture from video of UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, during an Al-Jazeera forum, February 8, 2026. (X)
Screen capture from video of UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese, during an Al-Jazeera forum, February 8, 2026. (X)

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calls for the resignation of the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, over comments she made allegedly targeting Israel at a conference.

“I respect the UN system of independent rapporteurs. However, Ms Albanese has made numerous inappropriate remarks in the past. I condemn her recent statements about Israel. She is untenable in her position,” Wadephul writes on X.

Wadephul’s French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot made the same call yesterday for Albanese to resign, over the same comments.

Speaking via videoconference at a forum Saturday in Doha, Qatar, organized by the Al Jazeera network, Albanese referred to a “common enemy” that enabled the “genocide” in Gaza.

Albanese has a history of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric toward Israel, according to her critics. The US State Department sanctioned Albanese in July, accusing her of “political and economic warfare” against the US and Israel and “unabashed antisemitism.”

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