The United Nations has always had a complicated relationship with Israel. But the continued appointment of Francesca Albanese as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian issue marks a new and alarming low. Albanese, empowered by the UN as an “independent expert,” has crossed from fierce criticism into fascist‑style rhetoric and tactics. And while she casually labels Israelis as Nazis, it is her own behavior that increasingly echoes the authoritarian playbook of the 1930s.
The most recent example is chilling. After an anti‑Israel attack on the offices of the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Nov. 28, Albanese responded not by condemning the violence, but by suggesting the act should “serve as a warning to the press” to change its coverage of Gaza. The comment was widely interpreted as intimidation of journalists—a threat dressed up as advice.
Her own UN bosses were forced to distance themselves. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric stressed that journalists must “never be intimidated” and should be free to do their work without threats, physical or verbal. But he stopped well short of censuring Albanese.
This wasn’t a one‑off lapse. Across years of statements, Albanese has:
• Denied the antisemitic nature of the Oct. 7 massacre, despite clear evidence that Jews were targeted because they were Jews.
• Suggested Jews control US policy, invoking classic “Jewish lobby” conspiracies.
• Compared Israelis to Nazis—the very tactic used historically to delegitimize Jewish existence.
These are not fringe comments shouted on a protest line—they are the statements of a top UN appointee, empowered to shape global opinion.
It is no surprise Jewish and pro‑Israel organizations have blasted her as an antisemite. US and European leaders have voiced similar concerns. Even France and Germany—usually the first to indulge anti‑Israel rhetoric—have condemned her inflammatory remarks.
The irony is almost too rich: while Albanese accuses Jews of behaving like Nazis, she increasingly mirrors the historical behaviors of fascism herself—scapegoating Jews, delegitimizing their rights, and now threatening the free press.
This is precisely how totalitarianism begins:
- Select a hated minority
- Spread conspiracy theories about its power
- Attack anyone who challenges the narrative
That a figure like Albanese is legitimized by the UN should shock anyone who cares about democracy—or who remembers history.
And yet she remains in her post, protected by the bureaucratic fiction that UN rapporteurs are “independent” and therefore beyond accountability. Dujarric has even noted that her role makes her effectively untouchable by Secretary‑General António Guterres.
So here we are: The world’s most prominent human rights organization is giving a global megaphone and diplomatic immunity to someone who traffics in classic antisemitic narratives—and who now signals approval for intimidation of journalists.
Once again, Jews are the target. And once again, the international community shrugs.
It would be comforting to dismiss Albanese as an extremist voice on the margins. But she isn’t. She is the official voice the UN has chosen to speak about Israel to the world. Her descent into fascist rhetoric is not just a problem for Jews—it is a warning for all of us.
Because history teaches one lesson repeatedly: When hatred of Jews becomes normalized, freedom itself is on the line.
If the United Nations wants to preserve even a shred of moral credibility, there is only one responsible course of action: Remove Francesca Albanese. Not later. Now.
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