Pro-Israel US Christian groups sue UN’s Albanese for alleged defamation

Pro-Israel US Christian groups sue UN rapporteur for the Palestinians Francesca Albanese for alleged defamation and libel.

The plaintiffs in the case are Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA, two US-based nonprofits.

In a lawsuit filed in a federal court in Colorado, where Christian Friends of Israeli Communities is based, the two groups say Albanese has “spread malicious lies” to “harm their reputations and financial wellbeing” due to their support for Israel.

In April, Albanese sent letters to the two groups accusing them of complicity in “gross human rights violations that require immediate cessation,” war crimes, crimes against humanity and apartheid, according to the lawsuit.

The letters said the plaintiffs were at “serious risk of being implicated in international crimes” and potentially criminally liable.

The lawsuit includes copies of the letters, which accused the nonprofits of aiding illegal settlement activity, assisting the Israeli military, denying the Palestinians the right to self-determination and aiding the unlawful annexation of Palestinian land.

The letters drew a response from Leo Terrell, the head of an antisemitism task force at the US Department of Justice, who warned Albanese that her actions were false and defamatory, the lawsuit says.

Weeks later, Albanese published a UN report that attacked the two Christian groups. The report said the groups and others should be punished by governments, courts and the public; demanded the nonprofits cease any activity linked to “crimes against the Palestinian people” and pay reparations to Palestinians; be investigated by international and US authorities; and be subject to a boycott.

Albanese made the statements knowing they were false, which would constitute defamation and libel, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit says Albanese has claimed immunity as a UN official, but argues that she made the defamatory remarks outside of her official duties.

Albanese has a history of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric toward Israel and has been sanctioned by the US government.