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| Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem among over 100 cultural figures backing UN’s anti-Israel rapporteur Albanese |
| 2026-02-15 |
We know what y’all are —thanks for reminding us who you are. [IsraelTimes] Over a hundred top figures from the world of entertainment sign an open letter in support of UN Palestinian territories rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who faces calls to resign over anti-Israel comments.France and Germany have called for Albanese, who has been repeatedly accused of antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric, to step down over remarks last weekend in which she referred to a “common enemy of humanity” after criticizing “most of the world” and the media for enabling Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. Critics and Israel have accused the UN special rapporteur of referring to Israel as a “common enemy,” while Albanese has denounced this as a “manipulation” and “completely false.” Israel has denied all accusations of genocide. In a letter organized by the Artists for Palestine group and shared with AFP, over a 100 cultural figures back Albanese, including actors Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem, Nobel-winning author Annie Ernaux, and British musician Annie Lennox. The signatories “offer our full support to Francesca Albanese, a defender of human rights and therefore also of the Palestinian people’s right to exist,” the letter says. “There are infinitely more of us, in every corner of the Earth, who want force no longer to be the law. Who know what the word ‘law’ truly means,” it concludes. Other celebrities to offer support for Albanese include actresses Rosa Salazar and Asia Argento, Oscar-nominated film directors Yorgos Lanthimos and Kaouther Ben Hania and Latin music star Residente. Albanese has a long history of making statements accused of being antisemitic, anti-Israel and pro-Hamas. On October 11, 2023, four days after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, Albanese said she doubted reports of rape and sexual violence. Instead, she said the US and Israel were spreading these claims to escalate tensions. She said Israel had no right to self-defense immediately after the Hamas invasion of Israel; said Israelis should be “considered suspect” and investigated when they are abroad; said other countries should halt pharmaceutical exports to Israel; characterized Israel as a “genocidal society”; and positioned the Jewish state as an impediment to global justice. She told a Harvard University gathering that when Hamas refers to killing Jews (Yahudi), they do not actually mean Jews. She has called accusations that UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 massacre “fallacious allegations,” though there has been clear evidence supporting it. Last November, she posted a cartoon denouncing Israel, depicting what appeared to be a global spiderweb, its strands draped with cash and weapons, in an image that experts said echoed age-old antisemitic tropes. She was sanctioned by the US government last year for her “unabashed antisemitism.” Related: Francesca Albanese 02/14/2026 UN rights office ‘worried’ after calls for anti-Israel rapporteur Albanese to resign Francesca Albanese 02/13/2026 Germany demands resignation of UN rights rapporteur Albanese over anti-Israel comments Francesca Albanese 02/12/2026 France calls on UN rapporteur Albanese to resign over ‘common enemy’ Israel remarks |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
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| Posted by: Frank G 2026-02-15 16:42 |
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| Posted by: Clusoting Spusose6626 2026-02-15 16:41 |
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| Posted by: Frank G 2026-02-15 16:20 |