UN Official Asks ‘Rabbi’ To Speak
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, was recently contacted by a parody Twitter account posing as the "Chief Rabbi of Gaza". The fake account, known for mocking progressive anti-Israel sentiment, invited Albanese to speak at an event at Columbia University about the "Morality of Intifada." The term "intifada" refers to a Palestinian uprising against Israel. The invitation was extended on behalf of the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University which claimed to be in full support of Albanese's work.
According to email correspondences shared with The Daily Wire, Albanese's research assistant, Eleonora De Martin, seemed interested in the invitation and asked for more details about the topic and the length of the speech. The reply from the fake Chief Rabbi, known as "Rabbi Linda Goldstein" on Twitter, stated that the event organizers wanted to hear about the "Morality of the Intifada," which they claimed had been co-opted by Zionists.
In her response, De Martin also inquired about the honorarium, a sum of money offered to a speaker for their appearance. Goldstein claimed that there was a small honorarium available but asked for it to be transferred to the "fellowship of her volunteer." De Martin then asked Goldstein for more details about the amount of the honorarium and stated that it would need to be sent to the University where Albanese works.
However, things took a turn when Goldstein asked if the honorarium could be donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) instead. This caused De Martin to stop responding, claiming that they had blocked the fake Chief Rabbi's account and realized that it was not a reliable source.
In an email to The Daily Wire, Albanese's team clarified that they never agreed to Goldstein's request and that there seemed to be confusion about the honorarium. They stated that they never received any donations for any causes and that Albanese does not speak at student rallies unless requested by other Special Rapporteurs engaging with students.
Goldstein, the character behind the parody account, expressed disappointment that Albanese backed out of the speaking engagement. She stated that she thought Albanese would care to amplify the voices of students protesting for a Free Palestine. Goldstein also claimed that Francesca Albanese only wanted to speak at the event to receive the honorarium and that she did not truly care about the plight of Palestinians.
The fake Chief Rabbi also stated that her intention was to teach the world that Intifadas, or uprisings, can be peaceful. Goldstein believes that globalizing the intifada will make Zionists uncomfortable everywhere, not just in occupied Palestine. She also accused Albanese of only being interested in the money and not truly supporting the Palestinian cause.
In February, Albanese was barred from entering Israel after she made controversial statements following a terrorist attack. She claimed that the attack was not an anti-Semitic massacre as labeled by French President Emanuel Macron, but rather a result of the "occupation against apartheid." This further adds to the skepticism about Albanese's true intentions and motives.
It is unclear if the fake invitation by the Chief Rabbi of Gaza was part of a comedic act or a deliberate attempt to expose the questionable actions of Albanese. However, it sheds light on the sensitive and complex dynamics surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the various players involved. The event itself was planned as part of a protest against the Israeli occupation of Gaza and invited several high-profile speakers, showing the ongoing support for the Palestinian cause within certain communities.
However, the invitation fiasco also shows the potential for individuals or groups to manipulate and exploit these sensitive issues for their own agendas. Ultimately, it highlights the importance of fact-checking and critical thinking in today's society, especially when it comes to controversial and polarizing topics.