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I/P Francesca P. Albanese UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Interview. [1]
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Date: 2023-11-07
Before I start, and accusations are made about Albanese kick-off, I will remind some people
Scholars of anti-Semitism defend UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine against pro-Israel onslaught
Sixty-five scholars of Anti-Semitism, Holocaust and Jewish Studies have issued a letter to denounce the escalating smear campaign against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel and supporters of the Apartheid State have accused the international lawyer, who was appointed in May to the UN post, of anti-Semitism and called for her resignation. “Once again, a high-ranking UN official defending the human rights of the Palestinians is being castigated, based on disingenuous allegations of antisemitism,” said the scholars defending Albanese. The trigger for the allegation is a statement in a personal letter made by Albanese in 2014 about Israel’s attack on Gaza which she had shared on Facebook. Albanese reportedly said that “America is subjugated by the Jewish lobby.” The letter states that the Special Rapporteur has distanced herself from “this inappropriate choice of words” and stressed that it is clear from the context of Albanese’s statement that she was referring to pressure groups that are commonly referred to as the “Israel Lobby.” “Books have been written including by Jewish scholars about such groups,” said the letter. “They legitimately exist and their influence, however effective, on American foreign policy towards Israel is real, in particular when it comes to blocking any initiatives aimed at holding Israel accountable for its inhumane treatment of the Palestinians.”
* Bolding mine. As anyone no matter how insignificant dares to criticize the Israeli Government knows, you are entering a minefield.
Anyway onto the interview in the Guardian
Israel’s attempt to destroy Hamas will breed more radicalisation, UN expert says
“We raised the alarm in the international community, the human rights community, but no one has really listened,” Albanese said. “Now it has reached a dangerous point of no return where the chances of peaceful coexistence have dropped vertically off a cliff. In fact, we are staring into an abyss.”
She challenged Israel to consider what is in its own self-interest. “Half the infrastructure of Gaza has been destroyed. 9,000 people have been killed, 3,500 of them are reported to be children, over 1,000 of them are still under the rubble. How on earth is that going to lead to peace?”
“Even if it was possible to eradicate Hamas, if [Israel] was to exterminate everyone, everyone, so not just the militants, but anyone who works for Hamas including service providers, even if that was possible, but Israel’s occupation remained in place, all the grievances would continue to grow and another resistance will emerge. It’s natural, it’s almost a law of physics. History confirms that.”
Whether, you agree, disagree, or just resort to insults, she has expert knowledge and raises some valid points and concerns for debate. As usual, I suggest reading the whole column.
I remember after 9-11 being asked the most common question of all time “But, why do they hate us” and when I [and others] pointed them to detailed modern histories of the Middle East it just ended in insults being hurled in our general direction. History has shown us who was right.
I wrote many moons ago [possibly here I cannot remember] that the Israel-Palestine question is the source of most of the hate in the Middle East, it is the main driver that feeds into the terrorist mindset. Once peace is established in that one tiny area then most of the raison d'etre is sucked out of the room. Ignore it, then you will be surprised/horrified once again.
I will pray for the innocents on both sides, I also will pray for those whose thoughts are distorted by hate and anger on both sides.
Most of all I will pray for the end to violence no matter where.
Just a thought
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[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/7/2204177/-I-P-Francesca-P-Albanese-UN-Special-Rapporteur-on-Palestine-Interview?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web
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