IINZ calls on government to condemn UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s antisemitic rhetoric and bias
The Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ) urges the New Zealand Government to join like-minded countries in condemning the ongoing antisemitic statements and anti-Israel bias demonstrated by Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
Francesca Albanese
So far, more than a dozen democracies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, have condemned Ms Albanese, with several calling for her resignation. New Zealand’s silence betrays any rhetoric of wanting to stand against bias or racism. Even the spokesman for UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stated plainly: “We don’t agree with much of what she says.”
Ms Albanese has described Israel as a “common enemy of humanity,”, downplayed the atrocities of the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, associated with groups accused of supporting terrorism, and compared Israel to Nazi Germany. The latter is a direct contravention of the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) Working Definition of antisemitism. As an observer member of IHRA, the New Zealand government’s silence is even more egregious.
Dr. David Cumin, Director of the Israel Institute of New Zealand, stated: “Francesca Albanese’s mandate is meant to be impartial, yet her actions consistently undermine this principle. She has faced strong condemnations from the United States for her conduct, and investigations have revealed undeclared funding from pro-Hamas lobby groups during her 2023 visit to New Zealand and Australia. This is not just bias—it’s a threat to the integrity of the United Nations and a normalization of antisemitism under the guise of human rights advocacy.”
IINZ highlights that Albanese’s visit to New Zealand in 2023, during which she met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, as documented in official records, further underscores the need for scrutiny. New Zealand has a history of supporting fair and balanced international institutions, yet it has remained silent on Albanese’s repeated violations of the UN Code of Conduct, including promoting Holocaust inversion and failing to disclose financial ties.
“We call on Foreign Minister Winston Peters and responsible Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to join the growing chorus of international leaders in demanding Albanese’s removal from her position,” added Dr Cumin. “This silence is particularly hypocritical given New Zealand’s membership in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) since December 2022, which commits the country to combating antisemitism and Holocaust distortion. Silence in the face of such egregious behavior risks New Zealand’s reputation as a defender of human rights and could embolden further antisemitic discourse globally. The Government must speak up to uphold the values of tolerance and truth.”
The Israel Institute of New Zealand remains committed to fostering understanding and dialogue between New Zealand and Israel, countering misinformation, and advocating for policies that promote peace and security in the Middle East.
IINZ
