The UN has recently initiated an investigation into the actions of Francesca Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. Albanese is well-known for her anti-Israeli stance, and the probe will specifically focus on allegations that her recent visit to Australia and New Zealand was sponsored by a Hamas lobby group.
During her trip, Albanese reportedly urged a local pension fund to boycott Israel. While she claims that the funding for her trip came from the UN budget, the Hamas-linked organization has stated that they provided $20,000 in financial support. The UN press service has not confirmed Albanese’s assertion regarding the source of the funds.
Albanese has a history of making anti-Israel and anti-Semitic remarks, including suggesting that the US is controlled by the Jewish lobby. She has also come under fire for refusing to condemn terrorist attacks against Israelis and supporting the BDS movement, which calls for a boycott of Israel. The US, France, and Germany have accused her of anti-Semitism.
The investigation into Albanese was prompted by a complaint from UN Watch, a pro-Israel organization based in Geneva. According to Hillel Neuer, the watchdog for UN Watch, Albanese uses her position at the UN to spread anti-Semitism and Hamas propaganda. He believes that her actions tarnish the reputation of the UN and undermine its credibility.