Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 21, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 21, 2026
US says removal of anti-Israel UN envoy from sanctions list is temporary, not a policy change
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese in Cape Town, South Africa, October 28, 2025. (Rodger Bosch/AFP)
The US decision to remove Francesca Albanese, a UN special rapporteur on the West Bank and Gaza, from a list of sanctioned individuals is temporary and does not reflect a policy change, a State Department spokesperson says.
The spokesperson adds that the US government has appealed a temporary court order blocking the sanctions against Albanese, who has long been accused of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric against Israel, and will reimpose the sanctions if the ruling is overturned.
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here