South African jurist Navi Pillay awarded Nobel Peace Prize amid Israeli backlash
South African lawyer Navi Pillay has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in international law, drawing sharp criticism from Israel.
South African lawyer and former United Nations official Navanethem "Navi" Pillay has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her lifelong defense of international legal principles and human rights. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised the 85-year-old former judge at the International Criminal Court for her pivotal role in prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
The decision drew immediate condemnation from Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the award legitimizes hatred against the country, while officials criticized Pillay's recent role heading a UN commission of inquiry into occupied Palestinian territories. An Israeli statement remarked that "Joseph Goebbels surely applauds" the Nobel Committee's decision to honor what Israel characterized as false accusations.
Pillay previously served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and fought against apartheid in South Africa.
Sources: Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy
Sources
- Seznam Zprávy — Nobelova cena míru míří k právničce, která obvinila Izrael z genocidy
- iROZHLAS — Izrael kritizuje udělení Nobelovy ceny za mír právničce Pillayové. Vedla vyšetřovací komisi OSN
- Hospodářské noviny — Nobelovu cenu za mír dostala bojovnice proti apartheidu Pillayová. Odbornice na mezinárodní právo usilovala i o potrestání válečných zločinců
- Respect — „Goebbels tleská.“ Izrael kritizuje udělení Nobelovy ceny za mír