UN Envoy Sparks Outrage Again With Remarks on Germany and Holocaust Guilt

Francesca Albanese, the UN rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, published a sharply worded post attacking Germany and linking its historical past in the Holocaust to its support for Israel. Albanese, who has previously made antisemitic remarks, criticized German society and its relationship with Israel and the Jewish people.

In the post, Albanese wrote: "Maybe we should stop calling what affects Germany 'historical guilt.' It is simply a syndrome of historical superiority, never properly diagnosed, never treated, never healed."

She went on to argue that German society had not truly confronted its past, but had instead, in her words, chosen a different path: "Many Germans pretended they were overcoming the Nazi past by creating an exception. But this is mostly a convenient mask for being accepted among their peers. The Western club accepted them because they proved themselves capable of tolerating certain members of the group that had once been 'undesirable.'"

Albanese continued: "And so they accepted the Jews, but not all of them. Especially those who learned that in order to survive in this world they must be superior. No longer a fragile minority. No longer a diasporic people. No longer the People of the Book. But the chosen people. 'Chosen to rule?' one might ask when looking at what Israel has become."

She added: "But Israel does not represent all Jews. And therefore Germany does not respect all Jews. Look at how Germany treats anti-Zionist Jews and you will understand what is happening."

She ended her remarks with further criticism of Germany: "No pretense will be enough to conceal what Germany still is. A country advanced economically and scientifically, while at the same time appearing somewhat socially disturbed, to the point that it legislates discriminatory laws that many citizens will obey reluctantly. I know Germans can do better. I have seen them. But they are being called to free themselves. This is their opportunity."

The latest uproar joins the ongoing criticism surrounding Albanese, who serves as the UN rapporteur for the Palestinian territories. In February, during an Al Jazeera conference held in Qatar, she said that Israel is "the common enemy of humanity" — a statement that drew sharp condemnations from senior officials in several European countries. A few months ago, the United States also decided to impose sanctions on her.