In a controversial move, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Dutch Parliament this week retracted an invitation extended to Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Palestine, to speak about her findings on the ongoing situation in Palestine. The invitation had originally been issued at the initiative of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) and the Greens (GroenLinks), two prominent center-left parties in the Netherlands. However, after sustained pressure from the pro-Israel lobby organization CIDI, which accused Albanese of antisemitism, the invitation was rescinded in a new vote.
Albanese, a well-respected human rights advocate, has been outspoken about the human rights violations taking place in Palestine, particularly under the Israeli occupation. Her UN role involves examining issues of human rights within the occupied Palestinian territories, and she has consistently called for accountability regarding Israel’s actions in the region.
The vote came amid intense political lobbying by right-wing factions in the Netherlands, including three out of four parties that form the current ruling coalition: the fascist Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). Christian parties such as the Christian Union and the Reformed Political Party sided against the invitation, and so did the far-right Forum for Democracy.
Geert Wilders, the leader of PVV, who is known for his staunchly racist and anti-Islam rhetoric, has consistently demonstrated support for Israel. Earlier this year, he visited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even after an international arrest warrant was issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes.
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Albanese expressed her disappointment. She said: “I am disappointed to see that parliamentary members, who gather in the same city as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the ICC, deny what is happening in Palestine. Israel has created circumstances that have led to the destruction of Palestinian lives. Even Israeli military personnel have admitted to committing crimes. Yet, the politicians in your country only listen to the Israeli government, whose Prime Minister faces an arrest warrant for suspected war crimes.”
The UN Rapporteur also voiced her skepticism regarding the prospect of a ceasefire, asserting that true peace can only be achieved when Palestinians are given the freedom to live as a people without oppression. She warned against complacency, stating: “Genocides, whether in Europe or elsewhere, occur when the majority of people ignore the dehumanization of others. As long as we continue to overlook our own biases and orientalist views, there will be no peace in Israel or Palestine.”
Despite the official disinvitation, Albanese was warmly received by center and left-wing political groups in a smaller setting on February 12. On the same day, she was welcomed by a vibrant Palestinian solidarity movement in the streets of the Netherlands. Albanese was honored with the Dries van Agt Prize, which recognizes individuals who have shown courage in defending human rights.
The cancellation of Albanese’s invitation is seen by many as a setback for open dialogue on human rights and peacebuilding. However, the continued support for her from Dutch civil society and political progressives underscores a commitment to raising awareness about the situation in Palestine and advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people.
