
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories who has repeatedly drawn criticism over her anti-Israel rhetoric, is facing renewed backlash after publishing remarks that critics say blend antisemitic themes with a distorted portrayal of Holocaust history.
In a Facebook post, Albanese urged Germans to release themselves from what she described as the continuing burden of guilt and responsibility tied to the crimes committed by Nazi Germany.
According to Albanese, Germany’s strong backing of Israel is not rooted in genuine repentance for the Holocaust, but rather in what she characterized as an unresolved sense of superiority. She argued that Germany’s support for Israel functions as a “convenient mask” designed to help restore its standing and acceptance within the international community.
Her comments went beyond criticism of Germany and included broader remarks about Jews and Israel. “The Western club accepted them because they proved themselves capable of tolerating certain members of the group that were previously ‘undesirable,’ and so they accepted the Jews, but not all of them. They learned that to survive in this world they must be superior. No longer a fragile minority. No longer a people in exile. No longer the people of the book. But the chosen people. ‘Chosen to rule?’ one might wonder when looking at what Israel has become.”
Albanese also alleged that Germany discriminates against Jews who oppose Zionism and accused the country of adopting discriminatory legislation. She further called on Germans to distance themselves from what she described as an imposed obligation toward Israel.
The controversy is the latest in a series of incidents involving Albanese’s public statements. Earlier this year, during an Al Jazeera conference in Doha, Qatar, she referred to Israel as “the common enemy of humanity” — remarks that triggered sharp criticism from officials and political leaders across Europe, with some calling for her dismissal from her UN position.