DOJ defends UN employees accused of collaborating with Hamas
“No one is above the law,” Kamala Harris says when speaking of her rival, former President Donald Trump.
But the Harris-Biden administration is arguing in federal court that lots of people are above the law — in particular, the many UN employees who aided Hamas in its terror activities.
In June, victims of the Oct. 7 massacre filed a lawsuit in New York against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, accusing UNRWA and its officials of supporting Hamas.
Evidence of UNRWA’s collaboration with Hamas is well-documented and dates back many years.
“Oh, I am sure that there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll, and I don’t see that as a crime,” then-UNRWA Commissioner-General Peter Hansen stated in 2004.
Twenty years later, many UNRWA staffers were directly involved in the Oct. 7 terror attack, while others were responsible for the imprisonment and torture of hostages afterward.
The United Nations, which claims to be dedicated to advancing human rights, has pledged to waive any claims to immunity for acts of terror.
Nonetheless, it responded to the victims’ lawsuit by asserting immunity for itself and its employees.
This week, news emerged that the United States Department of Justice has joined this effort, arguing that both UNRWA and its workers should have “absolute immunity” from lawsuit.
As the first anniversary of Oct. 7 approaches, the DOJ is defending some of the attack’s perpetrators.
The DOJ letter argues that the UN officials have immunity under the 1945 International Organizations Immunities Act.
While the US has historically supported broad UN immunity, UN agencies have never before been so closely tied to a terrorist group like Hamas.
The administration’s defense of the UN-Hamas terrorists is seen as legally unnecessary.
The LIABLE Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, would allow international organizations to be sued for promoting terror, encouraging UN leaders to provide better oversight.
Kamala Harris, as a former prosecutor, should consider this act beneficial.
Mark Goldfeder is director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center. Eugene Kontorovich is a professor at George Mason University Scalia Law School.
