Pro-Israel lobby sues US human rights group over ‘balloon terror’ allegations

United States (QNN)- A pro-Israel organization and 12 individuals have filed a $90 million lawsuit that accuses the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) of engaging in environmental terrorism, according to Mondoweiss.

The legal action was brought forward by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) and 12 Americans citizens who live in the occupation state last month.

The complaint alleges that USCPR has funneled money to the Boycott National Committee (BNC) to be used for terrorist activities and that BNC is directly connected to HAMAS, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front-General Command and the Palestinian Liberation Front. The group’s press release on the action claims that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement itself is a “campaign of terror against Israel.”

The lawsuit claims that USCPR helped bankroll the release of balloons from Palestine, which allegedly started fires and caused “extreme emotional pain” for the Israelis.

“[M]embers of the public have been denied the use and enjoyment of KKL-JNF forests and public areas including scenic trails, recreation areas, bicycle trails and public areas and amenities provided by KKL-JNF and others for their use and enjoyment, as the rockets, incendiary terror balloons and kites have interfered with the public’s health, safety and peace,” reads the complaint.

A recent In These Times report by journalist Alex Kane details how pro-Israel groups partner with the country’s government in an effort to defund BDS activities throughout the world.

“The open collaboration between the Ministry and Israeli nonprofit groups to shut down the financial infrastructure of Palestinian rights groups is a new front in Israel’s battle against the nonviolent BDS movement,” wrote Kane.

“[KKL-JNF], which displaces Palestinians from their land for Jewish-only use, is perversely claiming that its business operations are harmed by the USCPR’s peaceful advocacy for Palestinian rights,” Center for Constitutional Rights Deputy Legal Director Maria LaHood told Mondoweiss, “The lawsuit is a ludicrous abuse of U.S. courts to silence calls for Palestinian freedom, revealing how threatened it is by the growing movement.”