World Jewish Congress President Lauder Condemns Selection of Navi Pillay for Nobel Peace Prize

NEW YORK – After the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that South African jurist Navi Pillay will receive the Nobel Peace Prize 2026, Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, released the following statement:

“Navi Pillay is no diplomat and certainly no peacemaker. The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award her the Peace Prize is a shocking affront to those who oppose antisemitism and defend Jewish life everywhere.

“We reject Pillay’s accusations of genocide against Israel as baseless, politically motivated, and unsupported by credible evidence. She has lent the UN’s authority to a campaign that demonizes the Jewish state and fuels hostility toward Jews worldwide. The biased process she has led has brought shame upon the United Nations and undermined its credibility.

“Jewish communities repeatedly challenged her conduct and called for her removal. The committee has chosen to reward conduct that should have warranted her dismissal. That decision discredits the Peace Prize itself.”

About the World Jewish Congress

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.

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