NDP nominates UN official Francesca Albanese for Nobel Peace Prize amid global controversy

On Friday, NDP Foreign Affairs and Defence Critic Heather McPherson (Edmonton-Strathcona) and NDP House Leader Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie) announced their intention to nominate Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, for the Nobel Peace Prize.The nomination has sparked significant controversy due to Albanese’s outspoken criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and past accusations of antisemitic remarks.In an official statement, McPherson praised Albanese’s dedication, stating, “Albanese has stood up for human rights, peace, and international law since the beginning of her mandate as the UN Special Rapporteur.”The NDP’s nomination underscores Albanese’s polarizing role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting tensions between human rights advocacy groups and geopolitical alliances.“She is the one who truly deserves the Nobel Peace Prize," Boulerice said. "The NDP will keep fighting for actions so that both Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace and security.".Federal funding supported U of A conference with pro-Hamas speakers .Albanese, who holds a law degree from the University of Pisa and a Master’s in Human Rights from SOAS University of London, has faced scrutiny for referring to herself as a lawyer despite not having passed a bar exam.Her current position started in May 2022, and has since included high-profile visits to countries like Canada to advocate against human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank, including what she describes as Israel’s “genocide” and illegal settlement expansion.In October 2024, Canada’s Special Envoy on Combating Antisemitism, Deborah Lyons, said. “As a former UN official, as the Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism, and as a Canadian, I am horrified to see a United Nations Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, engage in Holocaust distortion and inversion.”In a November 2024 interview on CBC’s Front Burner podcast, she accused Israel of pursuing “ethnic cleansing” through forced displacement and unliveable conditions for Palestinians..Jewish group denounces activists accused of antisemitism at Parliament Hill event.Albanese has also endorsed the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for alleged war crimes.This past April, in a joint letter, ten European Parliament lawmakers opposed the UN reappointment of Albanese for promoting terrorism and antisemitism, saying, “Since assuming office in May 2022, she has persistently violated the Code of Conduct, tarnishing the reputation of the United Nations as a whole."While serving as Special Rapporteur, Ms. Albanese has repeatedly called for Israel’s expulsion from the United Nations, and systematically used her platform to spread inflammatory rhetoric, antisemitism, and statements legitimizing Hamas terrorism.”Her advocacy has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Israel and the United States.Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Albanese under Executive Order 14203, designating her a “specially designated national” and prohibiting U.S. persons and companies from engaging in transactions with her until August 8, 2025, except for winding down existing dealings.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the sanctions, stating, “Albanese’s campaign of political and economic warfare against the United States and Israel will no longer be tolerated."We will always stand by our partners in their right to self-defence.”.PINDER: Why is the supposed peacemaker UN biassed against Israel?.Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon echoed the sentiment, accusing Albanese of waging a “relentless and biased campaign” that crosses into “political warfare.”When asked by Al Jazeera about the sanctions, Albanese dismissed them as “mafia-style intimidation techniques,” reiterating her focus on reminding states of their obligations to stop and punish genocide.Both Israel and the U.S. have rejected accusations of genocide, with Israel asserting that its military campaign in Gaza is a defensive response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which saw approximately 1,200 people killed and over 250 Israelis taken hostage.Since October 7, antisemitic attacks in Canada have steadily increased.According to B’nai Brith Canada’s most recent Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, reported incidents soared across Canada to an all-time record of 6,219 in 2024 – the highest recorded since tracking began in 1982.Alberta saw 916 incidents last year – a 160.2% increase from 2023 – while Quebec saw the highest increase (1,651 incidents, 215.7% increase).

NDP nominates UN official Francesca Albanese for Nobel Peace Prize amid global controversy

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