Pro-Palestinian Group Demands US Criminal Probe of Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Arieh King Ahead of US Visit

Hind Rajab Foundation, a pro-Palestinian organization, has formally requested the US Department of Justice to initiate criminal proceedings against Arieh King, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem. The demand, made public on Tuesday, accuses King of involvement in what the group calls "war crimes of unlawful population transfer" and "incitement to genocide." This move comes ahead of King's planned visit to the United States next week, where he intends to raise funds for the Israel Land Fund, which he founded. Prior to the US trip, King is expected to visit Canada, with events scheduled in Toronto and Montreal.

In the past 24 hours, the Legal Center for Palestine, in collaboration with the Hind Rajab Foundation, also filed a complaint with the Canadian Federal Police’s War Crimes Unit. The foundation alleges King, who holds Israeli and British citizenship and is a prominent figure in Jewish settlement activities in East Jerusalem, has used his public roles and his foundation to facilitate the eviction of Palestinians and transfer of property to Jews, particularly in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods. These actions are claimed to potentially constitute "unlawful transfer of protected persons" under the Geneva Convention, qualifying as war crimes under US law.

The complaint highlights King's statements during the recent conflict, including calls to halt aid to Gaza, support for protesters blocking aid trucks, and alleged calls for the expulsion and destruction of Gaza residents and cities. The foundation also cited a social media post attributed to King showing bound Palestinian detainees with a caption suggesting he would order bulldozers to bury them alive, though the post was later removed. Additionally, King is accused of prolonged incitement against UNRWA, labeling it a "Nazi terrorist organization," praising the arson of its facility, and calling for the removal and killing of its staff, linking these statements to his efforts to shut down UNRWA institutions in East Jerusalem.

Jake Rom, the foundation’s US representative, urged authorities to arrest and prosecute King, while CEO Diab Abu Jaja stated that those involved in dispossession and attempted genocide should not move freely under immunity. So far, this is a unilateral request without any formal charges or arrest warrants. The US Department of Justice has not confirmed any investigation or acceptance of the foundation’s claims.

King rejected the allegations, telling Walla News he is proud to represent the Jewish people globally. He described the Hind Rajab Foundation as an extremist Muslim group that views Jews and Israel as obstacles to Islamic dominance, calling their accusations "antisemitism disguised as human rights activism." King expressed support for the current US administration’s backing of Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and its efforts to curtail UNRWA’s activities, including the suspension of US funding to the agency.