Lawyer posts proof South Africa approved serving defamation suit to UN adviser despite its claims

Service of defamation suit papers to Francesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur for Palestinian rights, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, where she gave the annual Nelson Mandela lecture on Saturday, reportedly left the anti-Israel U.N. adviser “visibly shaken.”

A spokesman for Mmamoloko Kubayi, the South African justice and constitutional development minister, said that the sheriff who served the papers wasn’t authorized to do so and didn’t follow legal and diplomatic protocols and that an investigation would be launched.

“Neither the director-general nor the minister gave effect to the above request for service of the process,” the spokesman said. “The minister has instructed that this irregular service of process be withdrawn and extends an unconditional apology to Ms Albanese, to the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the United Nations.”

Mark Goldfeder, CEO and director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and an attorney for the plaintiffs, posted a copy of what he said is South African authorization to serve the papers to Albanese. The document appears to be signed and stamped by the chief directorate of international legal and treaty affairs.

“You both love to lie,” Goldfeder wrote, to Albanese and Kubayi, “but please remember that the National Jewish Advocacy Center always brings receipts.”

“Ball is in your court,” he said. “We’ll see you in ours.”

Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The suit, which JNS viewed, alleges that Albanese defamed the U.S.-based organizations when she published a report alleging that they were complicit in gross human rights violations and risked implication in international crimes.

Albanese “falsely, maliciously and knowingly accused plaintiffs, which are religious, charitable organizations, of engaging in serious crimes and morally reprehensible conduct,” the suit states.

The lawsuit details Albanese’s lengthy history of terror support, antisemitic rhetoric and false claims of legal expertise, as well as a legally questionable reappointment to her mandate earlier this year.

The plaintiffs say that Albanese “has sought to insulate herself from accountability for her spiteful campaign against supporters of Israel by inaccurately claiming that she enjoys immunity for her malicious acts” through her U.N. position.”

Albanese’s “antisemitic crusade” falls “far outside the scope of her responsibilities and authority,” per the suit, which notes that Albanese was subject to U.S. sanctions earlier this year, with the U.S. government effectively stripping her claimed immunity.