German university cancels event featuring UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine

The Free University of Berlin in Germany has cancelled an event that was scheduled to feature UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese, German media reported yesterday.

The university’s president, Gunter Ziegler, made the announcement in a meeting with the university’s administration. Ziegler said that the administration decided that the event on 19 February “cannot be held as a public event with in-person attendance” due to “polarisation and the unpredictable security situation.” He apparently suggested that the event should be held online.

The Israeli ambassador to Berlin, Ron Prosor, is reported to have sent an email to Ziegler requesting the cancellation of the event that Albanese was expected to attend.

Earlier this month, the UN Special Rapporteur described Israeli practices in the West Bank as “criminal” and warned that Israel’s actions and pattern of conduct are “indicative of genocidal intent.”

Albanese took to social media to call on the international community to intervene and stop the destructive Israeli operations, which she said have expanded to include all of the occupied territories, not just Gaza.

READ: Genocidal acts in Gaza Strip risk being repeated in West Bank