Three High-Profile Members of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Israel Resign Amid Mounting Accusations of Antisemitism

By: Fern Sidman

In a major development reported by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) on Tuesday, three high-profile members of the United Nations’ controversial Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory tendered their resignations this month. The departures come in the wake of intensifying criticism over the commission’s alleged bias against Israel and follow the recent U.S. sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, a U.N. special rapporteur accused of long-standing antisemitism.

According to the report at JNS, Navi Pillay of South Africa, who chaired the commission, officially announced her resignation on July 8, citing age, medical concerns, and other professional obligations. Pillay, 83, indicated her resignation would become effective on November 3. In her resignation letter, she refrained from directly addressing the growing controversy surrounding her tenure.

Just days later, Miloon Kothari of India and Chris Sidoti of Australia also submitted their resignations. Kothari wrote on July 10 that serving on the commission had been “an honor” and confirmed his resignation following what he described as mutual understanding reached in discussions the prior week. Sidoti, in his July 9 letter addressed to Jürg Lauber, president of the U.N. Human Rights Council, stated that the retirement of the chair presented an “appropriate time to re-constitute the commission,” though he added that he would be willing to accept reappointment if asked.

The trio’s exit underscores what many observers view as growing pressure on the U.N.’s human rights mechanisms amid accusations of entrenched antisemitism and political bias. The JNS report highlighted that Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, the Geneva-based NGO that monitors the U.N., framed the resignations as a pivotal moment.

“Now the dominoes are falling. Frightened of also being sanctioned, architects of the U.N.’s anti-Israel inquisition are fleeing the ship,” Neuer said, emphasizing a shift in the international climate toward holding such officials accountable. “The tide is turning.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon echoed this sentiment when speaking with JNS, as he called the resignations “a step in the right direction” while stressing that the fight for fairness within the U.N. system remains ongoing. “We will not rest until justice and moral clarity are restored in the halls of the United Nations,” Danon stated.

The commission in question, established by the U.N. Human Rights Council, was tasked with investigating alleged human rights violations by both Israel and the Palestinian entities. However, the body’s mandate and conduct drew sharp criticism from Israel and numerous international organizations for its perceived bias. Critics argued that the commission systematically targeted Israel while ignoring the actions of terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as the policies of the Palestinian Authority.

All three members of the commission have been associated with controversial statements regarding Israel and Jewish communities Pillay openly supported the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Kothari, in a 2022 interview with a website known for antisemitic content, alleged that social media is “controlled largely by, whether it is the Jewish lobby or specific NGOs,” suggesting that financial interests were aimed at discrediting the commission’s work. Sidoti, meanwhile, was criticized for dismissive comments about antisemitism, including a remark comparing accusations of Jew-hatred to “rice at a wedding.”

In comments to JNS, Neuer described the commission as “born in prejudice, designed to target Israel while ignoring Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Authority.” He added, “Its members were selected precisely for their hostility to the Jewish state.”

Amir Weissbrod, deputy director-general for the United Nations and international organizations at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told JNS that while the resignations mark progress, the systemic issues within the U.N.’s Human Rights Council remain profound. “Pillay and her companions signified all that was wrong in this body,” Weissbrod stated. “Not standing with their minimal obligation to be impartial and neutral, having a nomination for life with no scrutiny and a huge waste of resources on endless biased anti-Israeli reports.”

The fallout from the resignations coincides with Washington’s recent decision to impose sanctions on Francesca Albanese, another U.N. official long accused of antisemitic rhetoric. Albanese has been criticized for her statements concerning Israel and Jews, leading to bipartisan condemnation in the United States.

The significance of the resignations was emphasized when Lauber, the Human Rights Council’s president, issued a request for member states to propose new commission members by August 31. This move suggests a potential reshaping of the commission, though it remains to be seen whether new appointments will address the longstanding concerns about impartiality and bias.

JNS reported that Israeli officials and Jewish advocacy groups are cautiously welcoming the resignations but are emphasizing the necessity for broader reforms within the U.N. system. They argue that without meaningful structural changes, new appointees could merely continue the pattern of hostility toward Israel.

As diplomatic circles monitor the unfolding developments, the role of the U.S. in pressuring the United Nations remains pivotal. Some officials believe recent American measures may have influenced the resignations, signaling a shift in how member states hold U.N. officials accountable for bias and misconduct.

While the resignation of Pillay, Kothari, and Sidoti may mark the end of a chapter in the commission’s controversial history, the future composition and conduct of the U.N. Human Rights Council—and its treatment of Israel—will remain closely scrutinized by both supporters of Israel and critics of the international body’s record on impartiality.