The United States has effectively turned the United Nations Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, into a global financial pariah. This follows after placing her on a sanctions blacklist, locking her out of the international banking system.
Albanese’s sanctions restricts daily life
According to Quds News Network, Albanese said she can no longer open a bank account or use a credit card in any country. This follows her designation by the US Treasury Department as a Specially Designated National (SDN).
Findings by Charity Journal reveals that Albanese investigates human rights abuses in the Palestinian Territories.
She explained that the sanctions cut her off completely from global finance. She added that willing banks are refusing service for fear of triggering punishing secondary US sanctions.
“This is not about law but about power,” Albanese stated.
Additionally, Albanese husband, an employee of the World Bank, now risks severe penalties. This includes potential fines of up to $1 billion or a twenty-year prison sentence for conducting routine financial transactions with her. Albanese described this as making her shunned in even the simplest daily dealings.
Francesca Albanese case ignites debate over US power and UN independence
The move has sparked sharp criticism from human rights groups and drawn a mixed reaction from observers.
In a contrasting view, a UK-based economist Professor Daniel Lacalle challenged the portrayal of her situation.
Lacalle dismissed the complaints as unfounded, arguing that the situation was not occurring. He pointed out that Albanese was being paid to travel internationally and had just completed a financially rewarding European tour.
He further argue that her husband remained a highly paid employee at the World Bank.
Findings by Charity Journal reveals that the US Treasury Department added Albanese to its sanctions list. They accused her of making antisemitic comments and justifying terrorism.
However, Albanese and UN officials have repeatedly and strongly denied these charges with the UN maintaining that its human rights experts act independently.
In a related development, the former United Nations official, Francesca Albanese, had declared that Israel possesses no legal authority over the Gaza Strip. She accuses Israel of systematically creating conditions to destroy the Palestinian population.
Meanwhile in Australia, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog. They described the act as a shameful disregard for international law and human dignity.
