Statement by the EAJC on the Occasion of the Awarding of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to Navi Pillay

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) expresses its profound outrage and disappointment regarding the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay.

This decision inflicts severe damage on the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize and undermines confidence in international human rights institutions.

Over many years, Navi Pillay has consistently leveled harsh accusations against Israel, supporting political pressure campaigns and calls for sanctions against the Jewish state. She actively participated in advancing the Durban Process, which has repeatedly faced criticism for turning the international struggle against racism into a platform for delegitimizing Israel and disseminating antisemitic rhetoric.

Of particular concern is the fact that in July 2021, following numerous public anti-Israel statements and her support for sanction initiatives, Pillay was appointed chair of the independent United Nations international commission of inquiry investigating Israel's actions.

The appointment of an individual who had previously openly accused one of the parties to the investigated conflict raises serious questions regarding compliance with the fundamental principle of impartiality. An international investigation must not only be conducted objectively, but must also ensure trust in its independence.

In September 2025, the commission chaired by Pillay accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. This conclusion does not constitute a judicial ruling establishing state responsibility for genocide.

The EAJC is particularly concerned by attempts to broadly interpret the legal criteria of genocide, which could lead to the dilution of the very definition of this crime. The 1948 UN Convention establishes strict criteria, including the requirement to prove a specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group as such.

Public discourse surrounding Pillay's legal approaches, including her involvement in the Myanmar case before the International Court of Justice, raises serious concerns about the preservation of these criteria. We deem unacceptable any politically motivated dilution of the concept of genocide and the weakening of evidentiary standards for such a grave international crime.

Equally alarming are the implications of such processes for Jewish communities worldwide. Amidst rising antisemitism, accusations against Israel leveled on behalf of influential international institutions can be exploited to justify hostility toward Jewish people and to propagate notions of their collective responsibility for the actions of the State of Israel.

In its official rationale for the award, the Nobel Committee leaves questions regarding her impartiality while leading the investigation into Israel's actions without a convincing response.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress remains convinced that the universality of human rights is incompatible with double standards, and that international justice cannot maintain its authority if its principles are applied selectively.

We call for a reaffirmed commitment to the principles of independence, objectivity, and the equal application of international law.

The EAJC will continue to consistently oppose antisemitism in all its manifestations, in defense of Jewish communities, and the security and legitimacy of the State of Israel.