US lifts sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians

US lifts sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians

Francesca Albanese, who has harshly criticised Israel, had been accused of antisemitism and expressing support for terrorism.

Francesca Albanese
UN expert on the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese faced global restrictions after being sanctioned by the US. (EPA Images pic)
WASHINGTON:
The US on Wednesday removed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories who has harshly criticised Israel, following a court order.

A notice on the treasury department’s website showed that it had removed a sanctions designation on Albanese that had blacklisted her globally, making it impossible for her to use major credit cards or carry out bank transactions.

Albanese, who is Italian, has been a relentless critic of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians in her role as the UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.

US district judge Richard Leon last week granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions.

“Protecting the freedom of speech is ‘always’ in the public interest,” Leon wrote in an opinion accompanying the order.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio, announcing sanctions against Albanese in July last year, said she has “spewed unabashed antisemitism, expressed support for terrorism and open contempt for the United States, Israel and the West.”

Albanese denies allegations of antisemitism, which have also been made by Israel.

Albanese has been at the forefront of accusing Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza in its devastating military campaign after the Oct 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

She faced a backlash when she said that the victims of the Oct 7 attack were not killed because they were Jewish but because of Israeli actions.

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