Jewish leaders have raised serious concerns about an upcoming speaking tour at British universities by Francesca Albanese, a United Nations official who has previously claimed that the
United States is influenced by the “Jewish lobby.” Albanese, who serves as the UN’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has made controversial remarks comparing Israel to Nazi Germany and asserting the right of Palestinians to resist what she describes as occupation, in statements delivered at a conference linked to Hamas.
Albanese is scheduled to speak at the London School of Economics (LSE), the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas), and Queen Mary University of London. Her talks will address the topic of “genocide in Gaza” and explore the events in relation to international law.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews criticized the decision to host Albanese, describing it as “deeply worrying” and accusing her of spreading harmful views on university campuses. “Francesca Albanese has a troubling history of making statements that many find offensive, such as suggesting that America is subjugated by the ‘Jewish lobby’ and using Holocaust comparisons that are deeply hurtful to most Jews,” the Board stated. “She has also dismissed antisemitism as a factor in the October 7 attacks.”
Albanese has faced backlash from Jewish groups for a variety of past statements. In February, she suggested to French President Emmanuel Macron that the victims of the October 7 violence were killed as a reaction to Israeli oppression, not due to their Jewish identity.
The Union of Jewish Students expressed similar concerns, noting that Albanese’s scheduled appearances reflect the “increasingly hostile climate” on university campuses. “Her tenure as a UN official has been marked by statements viewed as antisemitic, including minimizing the impact of the October 7 attacks and supporting conspiracy theories about the ‘Jewish lobby,’” the organization said, urging universities to consider the potential impact of her visit on Jewish students.
Former Higher Education Minister Robert Halfon emphasized the importance of free speech but stressed the need for balance, suggesting that Jewish students should also have opportunities to invite speakers with more sympathetic views toward Israel’s security concerns without facing restrictions or intimidation.
Albanese’s tour begins Monday with a discussion at LSE, moderated by Professor Gerry Simpson, followed by a public lecture at Soas later the same day. Soas announced her talk as a reflection on the historical context of the conflict, aimed at exploring accountability and potential solutions. On Tuesday, she will speak at Queen Mary University, in an event co-sponsored by various academic and research centers.
Albanese’s previous remarks have sparked calls for her dismissal from U.S. Congress members. In 2022, she attended a conference in Gaza linked to Hamas, where she told participants they had a “right to resist.” A Facebook post from a decade ago, in which she claimed the U.S. was “subjugated by the Jewish lobby” and that Europe avoided criticizing Israel due to Holocaust guilt, has drawn additional criticism. Although she has expressed regret for these comments, she continues to face scrutiny.
Amid the backlash, Albanese has continued to accuse Israel of severe human rights violations. In recent social media posts, she compared current events to the rise of the Third Reich and accused Israel of engaging in acts that could be considered genocidal. She has also shown support for Leila Khaled, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was involved in a plane hijacking.
Despite the controversy, Albanese has defenders among human rights organizations, who argue that Israel is attempting to discredit her work to silence legitimate criticism of its policies in the Palestinian territories. Photo by P. León, Wikimedia commons.