UN Watch Allegation on Guterres’ Remarks Misinterpreted, UN Confirms

New york: Pro-Israel lobby group UN Watch has come under scrutiny after alleging that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres referred to Francesca Albanese, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Palestine, as "out of control" and previously as a "horrible woman." However, Guterres did not name any individual in his statements, saying only that "many" independent rapporteurs were "totally out of control." The United Nations has clarified that associating these comments specifically with Albanese is a "misreading" of Guterres' remarks. According to France24.com, Albanese, who has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, has faced criticism from Israel, the United States, and other nations for her outspoken comments on the conflict. UN Watch, which aims to combat anti-Semitism, claimed that the UN Secretary-General himself labeled her "out of control," a statement it attributed to an interview with the Financial Times where Guterres purportedly admitted to an anti-Israel bias within the UN and described Albanes e in such terms. The claim, widely circulated online, misrepresents Guterres' actual statement. He addressed accusations of institutional bias against Israel by emphasizing the independent operations of various UN system parts, without naming any specific rapporteur. His reference to independent rapporteurs being "totally out of control" was non-specific, mentioning only "many" such individuals. UN Watch also referenced an alleged private comment by Guterres, calling Albanese a "horrible woman," a claim reportedly made by former US Special Envoy on Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt. This statement, allegedly made at the 2024 Munich Security Conference, remains unverifiable due to its private context and has been primarily reported by Israeli media. Albanese has responded to the allegations, asserting online that Guterres' remarks have been misinterpreted, noting that the independence of special rapporteurs might be challenging for those maintaining the status quo, which is a fundamental aspect of their mandate . The UN addressed the matter, with spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stating that interpreting Guterres' comments as specifically targeting rapporteurs on Israel is a "misreading" of his words. Dujarric defended the independence and right to speak of the rapporteurs, underlining the importance of their autonomy in fulfilling their roles.