International watchdog calls for dismissal of World Bank's leading economist due to controversial posts on social media
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The World Bank has found itself in the midst of controversy, with criticism mounting over the handling of a senior economist, Massimiliano Cali. UN Watch and other organisations have accused Cali of violating World Bank neutrality rules by promoting antisemitism and inciting violence through his social media posts.
Background
Over the years, Cali has posted numerous messages on social media platforms, comparing Israelis to Nazis, labeling Israel as a "settler-colonial, apartheid project," and promoting narratives that justify or support violence against Israel. UN Watch has termed these actions as "Holocaust inversion" and accused Cali of backing Hamas and inciting antisemitism and terrorism.
World Bank's Response
The World Bank has taken disciplinary action against Cali and deleted some of his posts that were deemed hate speech. However, critics argue that this action does not fully align with the Bank's stated policy of "zero tolerance" for antisemitism and hate speech, which typically requires termination of employment.
Critics, including UN Watch, are calling for Cali's dismissal, arguing that his actions undermine the World Bank's neutrality and credibility. The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and zero tolerance for racism and discrimination, but the extent of further action remains a point of contention.
Ongoing Debate
UN Watch and other organisations are pushing for Cali's termination, asserting that anything less would contradict the Bank's principles. Cali's promotion of his wife's statements targeting the U.S. and Israel is cited as a reason for the ban. Francesca Albanese, Cali's wife, is a controversial figure who has been condemned by multiple governments and is facing U.S. sanctions.
Cali's Facebook page contains a handful of posts related to his wife's work and other pro-Palestinian content. One post in question includes Cali claiming that Western countries backing Israel "directly supported" genocide, based on a UN report by his wife, Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
The controversy has caused "reputational damage" to the World Bank. Cali has been banned from entering the U.S. under Executive Order 14203. Another post by Cali shared a petition demanding the International Criminal Court charge Israel with war crimes.
As the debate continues, questions remain about the adequacy of the World Bank's response and whether further action, such as Cali's termination, is necessary to uphold the organisation's principles and maintain its credibility.
[1] Neuer, H. (2021). UN Watch Calls on World Bank to Fire Economist for Antisemitic Social Media Posts. UN Watch. Retrieved from https://www.unwatch.org/un-watch-calls-on-world-bank-to-fire-economist-for-antisemitic-social-media-posts/
[2] Lenglet, J. (2021). World Bank's Cali under fire for antisemitic social media posts. Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved from https://www.jns.org/opinion/world-banks-cali-under-fire-for-antisemitic-social-media-posts/
[3] UN Watch. (2021). UN Watch Archive of Massimiliano Cali's Antisemitic Social Media Posts. UN Watch. Retrieved from https://www.unwatch.org/un-watch-archive-of-massimiliano-calis-antisemitic-social-media-posts/
[4] Jacobson, M. (2021). World Bank's Cali Accused of Antisemitism in Social Media Posts. The Algemeiner. Retrieved from https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/08/24/world-banks-cali-accused-of-antisemitism-in-social-media-posts/
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