Ahead of his visit to the US: Pro-Palestinian organization demands arrest of Jerusalem deputy mayor

The Hind Rajab Foundation, a pro-Palestinian organization, has appealed to the US Department of Justice demanding criminal proceedings be opened against Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King, alleging war crimes. The appeal was filed ahead of his planned visit to the US next week. King dismissed the allegations, calling the organization "anti-Semitism disguised as human rights activism."

The Hind Rajab Foundation, a pro-Palestinian organization, announced today (Tuesday) that it has appealed to the US Department of Justice demanding criminal proceedings be opened against Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Aryeh King. The organization accuses King of involvement in what it defines as "the war crime of unlawful transfer of populations" and "incitement to genocide." The appeal was filed ahead of King's expected arrival in the United States next week, as part of a fundraising tour for the Israel Land Fund. The organization claims King used his public positions to bring about the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods. A central part of the appeal deals with statements King published during the war, including calls to stop aid to the Gaza Strip and support for protesters who blocked aid trucks. The appeal also includes a post attributed to King, showing bound Palestinian detainees kneeling on the ground, alongside an alleged caption stating that if it were up to him, he would order bulldozers to bury them alive. King dismissed the allegations against him in a response to Walla, calling the foundation "anti-Semitism disguised as human rights activism" and "an extremist Muslim arm." For now, this is a unilateral appeal by the organization, not an indictment or arrest warrant.