Israel bans U.N. "Special Rapporteur On The Occupied Palestinian Territories" Francesca Albanese From Entering Israel

"In a decision of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese is banned from entering Israel.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz and Minister of the Interior Moshe Arbel decided today (Monday, 12 February 2024) to ban United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese from entering the State of Israel following her outrageous statement that ‘the victims of the October 7 massacre were not murdered because of their Jewishness, but in response to Israeli oppression.’

The Population and Immigration Authority has been refusing to issue a visa to Albanese for some time, and now Ministers Arbel and Katz have decided to officially ban her from entering the country.

FM Katz and Interior Minister Arbel: ‘The era in which Jews remain silent is over. If the UN wants to return to being a relevant body, its leaders must publicly repudiate the Special Rapporteur's antisemitic remarks and fire her immediately. Preventing her from entering Israel might serve as a reminder of the real reason behind Hamas' slaughter of babies, women and the elderly.’"