UN Watch has called upon the World Bank to dismiss the husband of Francesca Albanese, Massimiliano Cali, over antisemitic remarks and support for terrorism.
By Rachel Avraham
On August 2025, the Geneva-based NGO UN Watch publicly called on World Bank President Ajay Banga to terminate the employment of Massimiliano Calì, a lead economist representing Tunisia. The organization claims that Calì posted a series of antisemitic and pro-terror statements on social media, violating the World Bank’s neutrality and ethics guidelines.
Calì is the husband of Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, herself accused by several governments and NGOs of antisemitism and excusing terrorism.
Calì allegedly described Israel as “the world’s most terrorist state” and compared its actions to historical atrocities in ways that distort the Holocaust. He reportedly defended or sought to justify certain acts of Palestinian violence, including suicide bombings, framing them as “resistance.” Calì’s statements also included inflammatory remarks toward the United States and its policies.
UN Watch contends these statements breach the World Bank’s Staff Rules, which demand impartiality and prohibit public comments that could damage the institution’s reputation.
According to UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer, Calì’s conduct is incompatible with the responsibility of a senior World Bank official: “The World Bank cannot remain credible while employing an official who promotes antisemitism and excuses terrorism. Calì’s words undermine trust in the institution and embolden hate.”
Following the NGO’s exposure, Calì deleted multiple posts from his accounts — but UN Watch preserved screenshots as evidence.
This controversy comes amid ongoing criticism of Francesca Albanese, Calì’s spouse, who in 2024 was sanctioned by the U.S. for comments widely condemned as antisemitic and for allegedly downplaying the severity of terrorist attacks. The case also raises questions about accountability for senior officials in international institutions whose public statements contradict the values of neutrality and human rights.
Under UN human rights principles, as well as international organizational codes of conduct, senior officials are expected to avoid any appearance of bias or endorsement of violence. The World Bank’s Staff Manual explicitly prohibits actions or statements that could compromise the institution’s integrity.
Public endorsement of violence, especially along ethnic or religious lines, may also fall under definitions of hate speech prohibited in various international covenants, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The incident is part of a wider trend of public officials facing scrutiny for online behavior, especially in contexts involving antisemitism and terrorism justification. In the past two years, similar controversies have led to resignations in EU institutions and UN agencies. Human rights observers warn that failure to address such cases risks normalizing hate speech within international governance bodies.
