Quote of the Day

Israel has a long history of weaponizing false charges of anti-semitism to attack and undermine those fighting for human rights for Palestinians – and U.N. officials and experts have been among the most consistent victims of those attacks.

Almost 15 years ago Richard Falk, an internationally respected Princeton professor of international law who had just been appointed the U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, was not only denied access to the occupied Palestinian territory to carry out the terms of his U.N. mandate, but was also arrested and jailed by Israeli authorities.

Since then every Special Rapporteur has been similarly excluded, their mandate and their work undermined, and their commitment to international law and human rights attacked as anti-semitic. Francesca Albanese [pictured at left] has been among the bravest of these Special Rapporteurs, maintaining her commitment to calling out all violations of international law relevant to her mandate – including when Israel has violated international covenants against apartheid and now, against genocide.

– Phyllis Bennis
Quoted in Jake Johnson’s article,
“State Department Spokesperson Urged to Resign
Over ‘Despicable’ Attack on Special Rapporteur
Francesca Albanese”
Common Dreams
March 28, 2024

UPDATE: On Friday, March 29, 2024, Francesca Albanese was interviewed by Leila Fadel for NPR’s Morning Edition program. Following is the audio of this interview.

NEXT:
Josh Paul: Quote of the Day
– April 2, 2024


Related Off-site Links:
Biden Administration Smears U.N. Genocide Expert as Anti-Semite – Breaking Points (March 28, 2024).
War on Gaza: “Reasonable Grounds” to Believe Israel Committing Genocide, Says U.N. Expert – Middle East Rye (March 26, 2024).
U.N. Expert Says She Faces Threats After Israel-Gaza Genocide Report – Rising (March 27, 2024).
U.N. Rapporteur Francesca Albanese Urges Arms Embargo and Sanctions on Israel over War Crimes in Gaza – Democracy Now! (March 12, 2024).
Biden Administration Quietly Approves 100+ Arms Sales to Israel While Claiming Concern for Civilians in Gaza – Democracy Now! (March 7, 2024).
U.N. Expert: “Apartheid Is in Front of Your Eyes Everywhere You Go” – Meron Rapoport (+972mag, February 6, 2024).
“The Worst of What Humanity Is Capable Of”: Pediatrician Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan on What She Saw in Gaza – Democracy Now! (March 28, 2024).
Anatomy of a Genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967 – Francesca Albanese (U.N. Human Rights Council, March 25, 2024).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Voices of Reason and Compassion on the Crisis in Israel and Gaza
• More Voices of Reason and Compassion on the Crisis in Israel and Gaza
• Michael Fakhri: Quote of the Day – February 27, 2024
• Sabrina Salvati: Quote of the Day – January 2, 2024
• Christmas 2023 – Reflections, Activism, Art, and Celebrations
• Jehad Abusalim: Quote of the Day – December 8, 2023
• Ta-Nehisi Coates: Quote of the Day – November 2, 2023
• In the Midst of the “Great Unraveling,” a Visit to the Prayer Tree
• Prayer of the Week – October 16, 2023
• Something to Think About – October 12, 2023
• Eric Levitz: Quote of the Day – October 11, 2023
• Phyllis Bennis: “If We Are Serious About Ending This Spiraling Violence, We Need to Look at Root Causes”
• “Nothing About Today is ‘Unprovoked’”
• “The Mistreatment and Discrimination Against Palestinians Is Not Unprecedented. It’s Baked Into the Foundation of the Political System in Israel”
• Progressive Perspectives on the Ongoing Israeli-Palestinian “Nightmare” (2021)
• Something to Think About – July 29, 2018
• Noura Erakat: Quote of the Day – May 15, 2018
• For Some Jews, Israel’s Treatment of Palestinians is Yet Another Jewish Tragedy
• Remembering the Six-Day War and Its Ongoing Aftermath
• David Norris: Quote of the Day – August 12, 2014