Following UN Watch’s advocacy, 42 French MPs publicly called on the government to reject Albanese’s reappointment, stating that it “would send a regrettable signal to victims, human rights defenders, and states committed to credible multilateralism.”
Click here to view the letter in French.
Letter (Translated to English):
Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
37 Quai d’Orsay
75007 PARIS
Paris, March 28, 2025
Mr. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs,
We call on you to oppose, in the name of France, the renewal of Ms. Francesca Albanese’s mandate as Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories within the United Nations Human Rights Council.
As the renewal of Ms. Albanese’s mandate, scheduled for April 1, 2025, approaches, we express our deep concern regarding the stated intention to maintain this appointment within an institution that must embody the universal principles of neutrality, impartiality, and respect for international law.
Since taking office in May 2022, Ms. Albanese has been the subject of numerous criticisms from major democracies, including France and Germany, for statements deemed unacceptable. On February 10, 2024, following the national tribute paid by President Emmanuel Macron to the “victims of October 7” — an attack the President described as “the largest antisemitic massacre of our century” — Ms. Albanese publicly challenged this description, stating that the victims “were not killed because they were Jewish.” This reaction reflects a form of relativism in the face of the horror of October 7. Denying this is a mistake, and justifying the attack by invoking context serves to minimize its severity.
These statements are part of a pattern of controversial positions, often marked by radical rhetoric, inappropriate comparisons, and a stance perceived as systematically hostile to the State of Israel, undermining the credibility and legitimacy of her UN mandate.
In early November 2023, less than a month after the most significant antisemitic massacre of our century, she co-authored a statement titled: “Time is running out for Gaza, warn UN experts, who demand a ceasefire to prevent genocide,” thus promoting the idea that a “genocide” of the Palestinian people is underway — an example of accusatory inversion reminiscent of Hamas rhetoric. In November 2022, she participated in a conference organized by the “Council on International Relations – Palestine,” an entity associated with Hamas, recognized as such by multiple sources and chaired by Basem Naim, a senior Hamas member.
In 2021, during the Brussels International Conference on UNRWA, Ms. Albanese accused Israel of committing “serious human rights violations and holding millions of civilians captive.” Also in 2021, in a tweet, Ms. Albanese referred to Israeli territory as the “historic homeland” of the Palestinians.
Ms. Albanese has repeatedly accused Israel of practicing apartheid and even organized a conference on June 15, 2021, entitled “Israel Apartheid Exposed: What’s Next?”
In January 2015, Ms. Albanese posted on Facebook a comparison between Gaza and the Warsaw Ghetto, equating Hamas “resistance” with the Jewish resistance in Warsaw.
During the Gaza conflict in 2014, she shared on Facebook a letter claiming that “America and Europe, one subdued by the Jewish lobby, and the other by Holocaust guilt, stand aside and continue to condemn the oppressed — the Palestinians — who defend themselves with the only means they have (wayward missiles) …” Also in 2014, Ms. Albanese wrote on Facebook, in criticism of the BBC: “The Israeli lobby is clearly in your veins and your system, and it will be remembered that you stood by Big Brother in this Orwellian nightmare once again triggered by Israel’s greed. Shame on you, BBC.”
Moreover, concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, undisclosed financial contributions, and Ms. Albanese’s participation in events organized by groups close to Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, Canada, and several other countries.
We remind you that according to the Human Rights Council’s HRC 8/PRST/2 declaration, any mandate renewal must be carried out in strict compliance with the Code of Conduct for Special Rapporteurs. The body of evidence accumulated so far — including her public statements, positions, and institutional and personal affiliations — clearly demonstrates a breach of the requirements for independence and neutrality.
Therefore, Mr. Minister, we ask you to bring these concerns to the attention of Ambassador Jürg Lauber, President of the Council, and to the members of the Human Rights Council.
In an especially sensitive international context, where the fight against antisemitism and for respect for international humanitarian law remains a priority, renewing Ms. Albanese’s mandate would send a regrettable message to victims, human rights defenders, and states committed to credible multilateralism.
We therefore solemnly call on you, Mr. Minister, to oppose, in the name of France, the renewal of Ms. Francesca Albanese’s mandate. The moral and institutional integrity of the United Nations is at stake.
Remaining at your disposal, please accept, Mr. Minister, the expression of our highest consideration.
[Footnote]
1 Notably at Sciences Po, where she gave a talk at the invitation of Students for Justice in Palestine (affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood)
Signatories:
• Caroline Yadan, MP for the 8th constituency of French citizens abroad
• David Amiel, MP for the 13th constituency of Paris
• Antoine Armand, MP for the 2nd constituency of Haute-Savoie
• Thibault Bazin, MP for the 4th constituency of Meurthe-et-Moselle
• Maud Bregeon, MP for the 13th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine
• Stéphane Buchou, MP for the 3rd constituency of Vendée
• Pierre Cazeneuve, MP for the 7th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine
• François Cormier-Bouligeon, MP for the 1st constituency of Cher
• Nicole Dubré-Chirat, MP for the 6th constituency of Maine-et-Loire
• Anne Genetet, MP for the 11th constituency of French citizens abroad
• Olivia Grégoire, MP for the 12th constituency of Paris
• Michel Herbillon, MP for the 8th constituency of Val de Marne
• Emmanuelle Hoffmann, MP for the 4th constituency of Paris
• Sébastien Huyghe, MP for the 5th constituency of Nord
• Phillippe Juvin, MP for the 3rd constituency of Hauts-de-Seine
• Brigitte Klinkert, MP for the 1st constituency of Haut-Rhin
• Amélia Lakrafi, MP for the 10th constituency of French citizens abroad
• Jean Laussucq, MP for the 2nd constituency of Paris
• Vincent Ledoux, MP for the 10th constituency of Nord
• Mathieu Lefèvre, MP for the 5th constituency of Val-de-Marne
• Constance Le Grip, MP for the 6th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine
• Sylvain Maillard, MP for the 1st constituency of Paris
• Christophe Marion, MP for the 3rd constituency of Loir-et-Cher
• Stéphane Mazars, MP for the 1st constituency of l’Aveyron
• Nicolas Metzdorf, MP for the 1st constituency of Nouvelle-Calédonie
• Paul Midy, MP for the 5th constituency of l’Essonne
• Laure Miller, MP for the 2nd constituency of Marne
• Joséphine Missoffe, MP for the 14th constituency of Paris
• Sophie Panonacle, MP for the 8th constituency of Gironde
• Jérémie Patrier-Leitus, MP for the 3rd constituency of Calvados
• Natalia Pouzyreff, MP for the 6th constituency of Yvelines
• Stéphanie Rist, MP for the 1st constituency of Loiret
• Charles Rodwell, MP for the 1st constituency of Yvelines
• Anne-Sophie Ronceret, MP for the 10th constituency of Yvelines
• Jean-François Rousset, MP for the 3rd constituency of l’Aveyron
• Laetitia Saint-Paul, MP for the 4th constituency of Maine-et-Loire
• Freddy Sertin, MP for the 6th constituency of Calvados
• Liliana Tanguy, MP for the 7th constituency of Finistère
• Jean Terlier, MP for the 3rd constituency of Tarn
• Prisca Thévenot, MP for the 8th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine
• Annie Vidal, MP for the 2nd constituency of Seine-Maritime
• Corinne Vignon, MP for the 3rd constituency of Haute-Garonne
