Netanyahu calls Nobel laureate Navi Pillay a 'bigot' after prize win

The controversy surrounding South African judge Navi Pillay's receipt of the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize has escalated into a heated debate between Israel and the United States. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Pillay the prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law, citing her role as a UN high commissioner for human rights and as a judge at the International Criminal Court. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from both Israel and the US.

The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has vehemently denounced Pillay, labeling her a "bigot" and accusing the Nobel Committee of being misguided. Netanyahu's office claimed that Pillay had built her career around fabricating and propagating blood libels against Israel, and that her report had found Israel guilty of committing genocide in Gaza.

The Foreign Ministry of Israel also accused Pillay of promoting hatred and lies, and rejected her allegations of genocide, calling them the "biggest lie of the 21st century."

In response, US President Donald Trump criticized the Norwegian Nobel Committee, claiming that the prize should have gone to the United States instead. Trump said that the committee had lost its moral compass and accused Pillay of perpetuating a "travesty of justice." He also singled out the United Nations, stating that it had played no role in resolving conflicts. The administration further imposed sanctions on the ICC, further escalating tensions between Washington and European allies.