Jewish agency files lawsuit against UN Special Rapporteur Albanese for libel against Christian pro-Israel groups

The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) has filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States against UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese over her claims that two American Christian Zionist groups are enabling an Israeli “genocide” in Gaza. 

The NJAC said in a statement that it filed the lawsuit on behalf of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA. In its complaint, NJAC stated that Albanese made defamatory and false accusations against the two groups in reports, accusing them of supporting war crimes. Albanese had been previously warned by the organizations and the U.S. Department of Justice that such accusations were defamatory, according to NJAC. 

Specifically, the NJAC lawsuit accused Albanese of defamation, trade libel, and tortious interference, alleging that she engaged in a malicious and false campaign against the groups. 

The lawsuit stated, “This past June, Albanese took her long history of blatant antisemitism to the next level by issuing a false report claiming U.S. companies and their executives who work with Israel are enabling genocide. The former UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories went on the offensive against Christians doing charitable works in Israel. She launched a smear campaign against the complainants, telling both plaintiffs in an April 24, 2025 letter, they’ve engaged in 'gross human rights violations,' war crimes, crimes against humanity, apartheid, crimes of aggression, willful killing, and willfully causing great suffering.” 

Albanese had filed a report titled, "From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,” in which she mentioned the charities as “enablers” of occupation and genocide, saying the money they provided went to projects used to
“support colonies, including some that train extremist settlers.” 

Albanese also alleged that the groups were “long involved in sustaining the settler-colonial occupation through knowledge, narratives, skills, and investment, and have continued to support, profit from, and normalize an economy operating in genocidal mode.” 

She recommended that entities such as the two Christian Zionist groups be sanctioned, pay reparations, and face other legal actions. 

Willem Griffioen, chairman of Christians for Israel International and Christians for Israel USA, explained the need for the lawsuit, saying, “Persecution of Israel, the Jewish people, and their supporters is not new. Albanese’s goal is to cut off our love and support for Israel, and she tramples our freedoms in the process.”  

Rachel Sebbag, NJAC litigation counsel, who is representing the plaintiffs, said, “If a racist antisemite gains a position of power and proceeds to abuse the public platform she enjoys in order to perpetuate lies about American religious organizations for their compassion toward and allyship with the Jewish people and the Jewish State of Israel by smearing them and calling for them to be blacklisted and sanctioned, she can and should be held liable for defamation.” 

In a joint statement, the two organizations said, “Our mission is simple: to connect Christians with Jewish communities in Israel and foster fellowship. We will not allow lies and antisemitism to silence us.” 

Eugene Kontorovich, a professor at George Mason University’s Scalia Law School, who advised the legal team responsible for the lawsuit said, "Some of the vilest antisemites and terror supporters have sought to shield themselves from accountability for their actions by hiding behind the UN flag. But as UNRWA recently discovered, automatic immunity for anyone claiming a UN affiliation is over. The Trump Administration has commendably sanctioned Albanese, but the American citizens she has harmed deserve direct justice.”