Zionist Organization of America leader accuses Nobel committee of anti-Israel bias, condemns the timing of the award and argues President Donald Trump deserved the honour instead.
By TheJ.Ca Staff
(October 9, 2026 / TheJ.Ca) Zionist Organization of America National President Morton “Mort” Klein has sharply condemned the decision to award the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to former United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay, accusing the Norwegian Nobel Committee of anti-Israel bias and declaring that the award has lost its credibility.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday that Pillay, an 85-year-old South African jurist, would receive the prize for her contributions to international law and efforts to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Pillay previously chaired a United Nations commission of inquiry that accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, allegations Israel has rejected.
Klein denounced the decision, particularly its timing during the week marking the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in Israel.
‘The Nobel Peace Prize Has Become a Joke’
“It’s pure Jew-hating and Israel bashing by the Nobel Peace Prize committee that in the same week we commemorate the brutal Islamic Arab massacre, rape and torture of 1,200 innocent Jewish children, women and men, the Nobel Peace Prize would be given to Navi Pillay,” Klein said.
He described Pillay as an “antisemitic bigot” and accused her of encouraging hostility toward Israel.
Klein also criticized previous Nobel Peace Prize recipients, including former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and former U.S. President Barack Obama.
He argued that their selection, together with Pillay’s, had undermined the award’s reputation.
Klein sarcastically suggested that leaders of Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis could be next in line, adding Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to his list.
Trump Should Have Won, Klein Says
Klein argued that President Donald Trump deserved the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize more.
He credited Trump with confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and weakening terrorist organizations across the Middle East.
“But the one who really deserved this Prize: President Donald Trump, who has made the world safe from the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nukes and has helped degrade Islamic terrorist groups, is likely not even considered,” Klein said.
He attributed Trump’s failure to receive the award to what he described as political hostility toward the American president and reluctance to confront Islamist terrorism.
Nobel Committee Defends Pillay’s Record
The Norwegian Nobel Committee presented a sharply different assessment of Pillay’s career.
The former UN high commissioner for human rights previously served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court.
Her work included major international criminal proceedings involving genocide, crimes against humanity and sexual violence.
The committee recognized her decades of advocacy for international justice and the rule of law.
Pillay’s role in the UN investigation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has nevertheless made her a controversial figure among Israeli officials and pro-Israel organizations.
Her commission concluded that Israel had committed genocide, a finding rejected by Israel and disputed by its supporters.
October 7 Anniversary Intensifies Criticism
Klein’s response reflects the continuing dispute between pro-Israel organizations and international institutions over the conduct of the Gaza war and the treatment of Israel in international legal proceedings.
The timing of the announcement added to his criticism.
The Nobel decision came just two days after the third anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7 massacre, when approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage.
For Klein, recognizing Pillay during the anniversary week demonstrated what he considers a profound failure of judgment by the Nobel committee.
The committee, however, said its decision recognized Pillay’s broader career advancing international justice, rather than any single investigation.
The dispute underscores the deep divisions surrounding international scrutiny of Israel and the political significance attached to one of the world’s most prominent peace awards.
This article was originally published by TheJ.Ca and can be viewed here.