By Max Bartels
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
New York, United States of America
10 American families were awarded $218.5 million by a jury in federal court in Manhattan. The 10 American families brought suit against the Palestinian Authority who, with the cooperation of the Palestinian Liberation Front, was alleged to have backed a series of terror attacks in Israel in the early 2000s that killed 33 U.S citizens and injured others.
The verdict is a severe blow to the cause of the Palestinian Authority, which is seeking legitimacy for their cause as well as international support. The lawyer for the American families believes that the damages will be tripled under the U.S Anti-Terrorism Act totaling at $655.5 million. The act allows for victims of U.S – designated foreign terror groups to seek compensation for pain and suffering, loss of earnings and other hardships.
The trial involved the testimony of relatives of victims who were killed as well as survivors of the attacks. In addition to graphic testimony the plaintiffs relied on records showing that the Palestinian Authority continued to pay the salaries of employees who were arrested and jailed in terror cases as well as paid benefits to suicide bombers and gunman who died while committing the attacks in question.
The defense argued that there was no proof that the Palestinian Authority sanctioned the attacks, saying that what the attacks did, they did for their own reasons and not on the behalf of the Palestinian Authority. In defense of the records showing benefit payments, the defense argued that it is illogical for payments after the attacks to be looked at as motivating the attacks in the first place.
Last year a jury in a federal court in Brooklyn found Arab Bank liable for Hamas suicide bombings that killed American citizens, based solely on the claim that the bank knowingly did business with the terror organization. The damages portions of the Brooklyn case are set to begin in May.
The Palestinian Authority claims it will appeal the verdict, calling it a disservice to Palestine and the international community who are working toward a solution to the conflict with Israel. Questions have also been raised about whether the judgment will be paid, in at least two previous cases for more then $100 the parties settled out of court confidentially. The plaintiffs lawyers claim that if they refuse to pay then their assets can be seized in both the U.S and abroad.
For more information, please see:
Newsweek — U.S. Jury Finds Palestinian Organizations Liable in Terrorism Case — 23 February 2015
Reuters — U.S Jury Orders Palestinian Groups to Pay Attack Victims $218.5 Million — 23 February 2015
