Ultra-nationalist group Betar has targeted UN expert Francesca Albanese as part of its ongoing intimidation of critics of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The Zionist extremists have been harrassing anti-genocide voices using beepers, in a clearly threatening reference to last year’s Israeli terrorist attacks in Lebanon. And they claim to have ensured the cancellation of an event hosting Albanese.
Francesca Albanese has been the UN’s ‘special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967′ since 2022. At the end of October, she released her latest report on Israel’s “settler colonial genocide” in Gaza. Because of her firm condemnation of Israeli crimes in occupied Palestine, Albanese has long been the target of a vile smear campaign. Dozens of Jewish organisations have rejected attempts to smear her as antisemitic
Betar’s threatening behaviour
Betar is the New Klux Klan https://t.co/ngqYlMvH0E
— Tikun Olam
(@richards1052) March 18, 2025
Betar has advocated for ethnic cleansing of Palestine and opposed the Gaza ceasefire. It also insists that its “enemies” include Jewish voices and organisations that criticise Israeli war crimes, and it has targeted them openly.
Zionist group threatening to blow up a UN official when she visits London.
Any other political activists behaving like this would (rightly) get arrested.
Why are Zionists allowed to operate outside the law?
Untenable. pic.twitter.com/guUW6iyFBt
— Matt Kennard (@kennardmatt) March 16, 2025
It is a criminal offence to incite violence against someone, let alone a UN official. @metpoliceuk I assume u will be arriving at the homes of Betar activists in the early hours of the morning to arrest them, or is that only reserved for non-violent supporters of Palestine? https://t.co/a4vvEvraJA
— Andrew Feinstein (@andrewfeinstein) March 17, 2025
When @FranceskAlbs spoke in NYC and we offered beepers to jihadis. Amazing how masked terrorists who support the murder of Jews pretend to be threatened by an item available for purchase on Amazon or eBay. pic.twitter.com/lbDr53wtTY
— Betar Worldwide (@Betar_USA) March 17, 2025
Zionist extremism against Francesca Albanese
Betar is “one of the oldest and most impactful Zionist movements in history”, which expresses its “unwavering commitment to the land of Israel” and seeks to “advocate boldly for Zionism”. As Jewish Voice for Peace explains:
Zionism is a form of Jewish nationalism, and is the primary ideology that drove the establishment of Israel.
It adds that:
While it had many strains historically, the Zionism that took hold and stands today is a settler-colonial movement, establishing an apartheid state where Jews have more rights than others.
Betar has been openly harassing anti-genocide protesters in recent months, and has apparently targeted some anti-Zionist websites too. It also expresses anti-immigrant views and claims to be documenting any foreign citizens (particularly students) in the US who have opposed Israel’s genocide in Palestine.
They’re clearly fans of Donald Trump’s ethnic cleansing rhetoric regarding Gaza. And unfortunately, they have received the support of high-profile celebrities like musician Matisyahu.
Featured image via the Canary
By Ed Sykes
This post was originally published on Canary.