Jewish Civil Rights Group Alerts Amazon Over Upcoming Book Sale
A well-known Jewish civil rights organization has raised concerns with Amazon regarding an upcoming book by a U.S.-sanctioned UN official, suggesting that selling it might breach federal sanctions law. They have requested that the company halt any related transactions.
Mark Goldfeder, who leads the National Jewish Advocacy Center, mentioned that Francesca Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer, is barred from receiving any payments or financial benefits due to her status.
Albanese serves as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories. Her claims—including accusations against Israel of genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism—have sparked significant controversy. Both Israel and the U.S. have rejected these assertions as false and anti-Semitic.
Additionally, Albanese is the author of a book titled *When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words, and Wounds of Palestine*, which comprises essays and personal reflections on Israeli policy regarding the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The hardcover edition is set to be released in April and is currently a bestseller in the human rights category on Amazon.
“We alerted Amazon and others about possible sanctions violations concerning @FranceskAlbs’ new book,” Goldfeder tweeted earlier this week.
In July, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Albanese, accusing her of collaborating improperly with the International Criminal Court and engaging in actions against the U.S. and Israel.
Goldfeder contends that Albanese’s designation as a Specially Designated National indicates that all her properties and rights are essentially frozen, meaning U.S. companies cannot send her funds or provide services without approval from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“According to federal law, the property of Specially Designated Nationals is blocked, and payments cannot be made without special authorization,” he stated.
In his legal notice to Amazon and other distributors, Goldfeder warned that promoting and selling Albanese’s publications could directly benefit her financially, which is not exempt under protections for informational materials. This situation might expose retailers to civil penalties under U.S. sanctions law.
Goldfeder pushed back against claims of censorship, arguing that the issue revolves around the legality of U.S. businesses engaging with sanctioned individuals, not the content of the book itself.
He clarified that his organization respects free speech and is not attempting to ban the book. However, there’s a need for clarity on how payments from the sale should be treated under sanctions law.
“She has the right to express her views, but since she’s been sanctioned, she shouldn’t receive payment for it,” Goldfeder added, suggesting that any proceeds from the book should be held in escrow.
He noted those funds could potentially be transferred to clients if they win a defamation lawsuit filed against Albanese.
In September, the National Jewish Advocacy Center, representing the Christian Friends of Israel and Christians of Israel America, took legal action against Albanese in Colorado federal court. They claimed she falsely accused them of involvement in genocide and war crimes, affecting their reputation and jeopardizing their charity work after a report was released following her UN role.
The lawsuit seeks damages, a retraction, and an order to prevent her from repeating those claims. Albanese has claimed immunity as a UN employee but the plaintiffs argue that her statements were made outside her official duties.
Albanese has dismissed the legal challenges, stating on social media that the uproar has merely provided her book with more exposure, attributing the backlash to what she calls “pro-Israel stooges.”
Professionally, Albanese faces increasing backlash in the U.S. She was recently removed from Georgetown University’s list of affiliated academics after the sanctions were imposed, and her profile was taken down from the university’s website.
While Georgetown hasn’t publicly elaborated on its decision, Albanese asserts it was directly linked to her sanctions, not her prior comments.
The newspaper has reached out to Amazon, Albanese, and Georgetown for their comments.
