Barnard College Under Fire for Hosting Controversial UN Official

Barnard College is facing criticism for inviting a United Nations official who has made controversial comments about Israel and its prime minister. Francesca Albanese, a UN special rapporteur, has compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler and described Israel as a modern-day Nazi regime. A pro-Israel watchdog group has urged Barnard to cancel the event, citing concerns about antisemitism and the safety of Jewish and Israeli students. Albanese has a history of criticizing Israel and has been accused of excusing the actions of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The event is being hosted by several academic departments at Barnard. UN Watch and other organizations have condemned Albanese's comments and called for her removal from her UN position. They argue that her presence on campus could foster an antisemitic environment and violate civil rights laws. Barnard has defended the invitation, stating that it is important to explore challenging ideas and that the college does not endorse the views of its speakers.