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Wednesday, January 15, 2025
UN chief called special rapporteur for the Palestinians a ‘horrible person,’ US antisemitism envoy says
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLuke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
US antisemitism envoy Deborah Lipstadt says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinians a “horrible person.”
Lipstadt says Guterres made the comment in a conversation during the Munich Security Conference last year, according to Jewish Insider.
Lipstadt says she expressed Washington’s concerns about Francesa Albanese to Guterres, who responded “She’s a horrible person” twice, the report says.
Albanese reports on the situation in the Palestinian territories and is appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, a separate body from the UN General Assembly, which Guterres leads.
US officials and members of Congress have condemned Albanese and demanded her removal, but Guterres’ spokespeople have repeatedly said he has no authority over her position.
Albanese has a history of antisemitism and inflammatory rhetoric against Israel.
Lipstadt is set to leave her position with the outgoing Biden administration.
The Times of Israel Community.