JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – The South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) welcomes the resignation of Navi Pillay and her fellow commissioners, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti, from the United Nations’ iniquitous International Commission of Inquiry into Israel, a commission uniquely reserved for the Jewish state. Israel remains the only country subject to a permanent, open-ended commission of inquiry at the UN, and the only country singled out with its own stand-alone agenda item. This fundamentally flawed body, criticised since its inception for its blatant bias and discriminatory mandate, can no longer pretend to be an impartial human rights investigation.
Navi Pillay, a former South African judge, brought shame to our nation by exploiting her UN platform to pursue a one-sided political agenda against the State of Israel. Her sudden resignation suggests she is now fearful of being judged for her own actions. Under her leadership, the Commission systematically ignored Hamas terrorism, excused hostage-taking, and provided cover for the most heinous forms of antisemitic incitement. Her repeated refusal to address legitimate concerns, including documented antisemitic remarks from fellow commissioners, destroyed any remaining credibility the Commission might have claimed.
This collapse is the direct consequence of mounting international scrutiny and decisive action, most notably the recent U.S. sanctions against fellow commissioner Francesca Albanese. The dominoes are falling, and antisemitism now has a price, with personal repercussions for those who target the Jewish state. It is particularly telling that, even in the face of such accountability, South Africa’s government continues to embrace the very individuals being held responsible for institutionalised bias and hatred. President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, even retweeted calls for Francesca Albanese to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and to be granted immunity from the United States—effectively signalling that the South African government wishes to offer international support and legitimacy to a known and unrepentant antisemite, in gestures that defy reason and trivialise the values that prize is meant to uphold.
The SAZF urges our government to distance itself from individuals and institutions that perpetuate antisemitism under the guise of human rights. Navi Pillay’s resignation is not merely the end of her tenure on a discredited Commission; it is a stark reminder that misusing international platforms for ideological warfare carries consequences.
