Pro-Israel speaker blocked from criticizing UN official during UN Human Rights Council session

The United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) session in Geneva on Wednesday was marred by controversy as pro-Israel speakers were interrupted and scolded, while those speaking against the Jewish state were allowed to make inflammatory accusations without repercussions.

During the session, U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer was interrupted twice while speaking out against United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, whose term is up for renewal. Neuer was ultimately blocked from delivering his full remarks, leading him to criticize the censorship as “a day of shame for the United Nations.”

The Permanent Observer Representative of the State of Palestine to the U.N., Ibrahim Khraishi, accused Neuer of being “affiliated with the Mossad,” a claim that went unchallenged by the session officials. Neuer’s attempts to cite precedent for bringing a complaint against a U.N. official were also shut down, leading to his microphone being turned off before he could finish speaking.

Neuer called for democracies to speak out against Albanese, who has faced condemnation from countries like France, Germany, Canada, and the United States for alleged antisemitism. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Neuer emphasized the importance of holding U.N. officials accountable for their actions.

Similarly, Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust Director Anne Bayefsky was scolded for her remarks during the session, with U.N. officials deeming her language to be “disrespectful” and outside of “acceptable limits.”

Albanese, who was appointed special rapporteur in 2022, has faced backlash for her comments seemingly justifying Hamas’ actions and denying the antisemitic nature of attacks against Jewish individuals. Neuer sent a letter to Human Rights Council President Jürg Lauber urging him not to reappoint Albanese, citing her alleged violations of the Code of Conduct.

The French, German, and U.S. missions to the U.N. have all condemned Albanese’s statements, with the French Mission calling her response to the October 7 attacks “a shame” and the German Mission labeling it as “appalling.” The U.S. ambassador to UNHRC at the time, Michèle Taylor, denounced Albanese’s remarks as “antisemitic.”

The Palestinian Mission to the U.N. has not responded to inquiries regarding Khraishi’s accusations against Neuer.

Overall, the UNHRC session in Geneva highlighted the challenges of addressing allegations of antisemitism and censorship within the United Nations, underscoring the need for accountability and transparency in human rights discussions on the global stage.