Thread by @pal_legal

What are the accusations in JNF v. US Campaign for Pal Rights based on?

The dangerous claims that support for boycotts is prohibited, and that because @USCPR_ expressed support for the Great March of Return, it’s responsible for “terrorist kites” launched during the March.

The facts are: @USCPR_ is a grassroots org working for freedom & justice for Palestinians – collectively, through constitutionally-protected boycotts, public awareness raising campaigns, and other tactics. They are one of the oldest & largest Palestine solidarity orgs in the US.

Ironically, JNF lands sit on the sites of depopulated Palestinian villages, many Palestinians marching in Gaza were from those very same villages. The lawsuit also cited @USCPR_‘s participation in a campaign to #StoptheJNF.

JNF is an unofficial arm of the Israeli govt holding 13% of all Israeli land, mostly stolen from Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons, managed under apartheid that privileges Jewish Israelis at the expense of Palestinians.

For more on the JNF, read this: 972mag.com/jnf-sumarin-is… and stopthejnf.org

The lawyer arguing the appeal is Nathan Lewin: architect of a lawfare strategy to drain orgs defending Palestine. Lewin is on a ZOA advisory board, and has rep’d AIPAC, members of the JDL (a violent right-wing group), and the Trump election conspiracist Mike Lindell.

The allegations are laughable, but their legal theory is a huge threat to our movements: they argue that their case should still advance past the early stages just because they slapped human rights defenders with the accusation “ties to Terrorists”– without evidence.

Allowing meritless lawsuits to advance would force defendants into a chilling and draining process. This can seriously harm already under-resourced human rights organizations.

There should be no free pass for groups abusing the courts to shield the Israeli government – or Big Oil, or gun manufacturers, etc – from accountability.

An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. We will resist lawfare together. Follow Thursday as @theCCR exposes empty allegations and dangerous theories in the D.C. Court of Appeals, tomorrow 9:30 ET!
🔗 Link: bit.ly/USCPRArguments…