The announcement of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize award to Navi Pillay has sparked strong criticism from Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, who argues that the decision undermines the prize’s credibility and sends a hurtful message to Jewish communities worldwide. Kantor contends that the prize, traditionally reserved for promoting peace and human dignity, has instead highlighted what he describes as a disregard for Jewish suffering and concerns.

Kantor points to Pillay’s prior defense of Miloon Kothari, a fellow member of the United Nations commission investigating Israel, as a key reason for his opposition. Kothari had reportedly made controversial remarks alleging that a “Jewish lobby” controls social media and questioned Israel’s membership in the United Nations. Kantor characterizes these statements as reviving age-old antisemitic tropes, and criticizes Pillay for defending Kothari rather than condemning the comments. He further accuses the commission’s report, which labeled Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, of lacking impartiality and adequate evidence, describing it as a predetermined condemnation that dismissed Jewish objections as attempts to weaponize antisemitism.

Highlighting a broader pattern, Kantor recalls Pillay’s tenure as secretary-general of the 2009 Durban Review Conference, during which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered speeches denying the Holocaust and promoting antisemitic rhetoric. According to Kantor, Pillay remained silent during these events despite Ahmadinejad’s history of violence and repression in the region. He argues that such episodes should have disqualified her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Kantor’s remarks were made shortly after the anniversary of October 7, a date marked by mourning in Jewish communities following attacks by Hamas that resulted in the deaths and abductions of civilians. He stresses that acknowledgment of Jewish suffering, security concerns, and the recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization are imperative components of any genuine peace effort. He calls for moral clarity in addressing the targeting of Jewish civilians, as well as sustained international attention to crimes against Jews.

According to Kantor, Jewish communities continue to face practical security challenges, including protective measures at schools and places of worship, and heightened concerns about displaying their identity openly. He warns that peace efforts must confront all forms of hatred, even when they come from prominent or respected figures and institutions.

The European Jewish Congress leader concludes that the Nobel committee’s decision represents a failure of moral leadership. While reiterating the universal nature of human rights, Kantor asserts that any institution that minimizes the suffering of Jews risks forfeiting its legitimacy in upholding the principles of peace and justice.