US jury finds Palestinian groups liable for terror attacks
JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press
TOM HAYS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority backed a series of terrorist attacks in the early 2000s in Israel that killed or wounded Americans, a U.S. jury found Monday in awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in damages at a high-stakes civil trial.

The case has been viewed as the most notable attempts by American victims of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to use U.S. courts to seek damages, and the verdict is a setback for the Palestinians' image as they seek to rally international support for their independence and to push for war crime charges against Israel.

The damages could be a financial blow to the cash-squeezed Palestinian Authority, though the Palestinian authorities plan to appeal and the plaintiffs may face challenges in trying to collect.

In finding the Palestinian entities liable in the attacks, a Manhattan federal jury awarded the victims $218.5 million in damages for the bloodshed in attacks that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds more — damages their lawyers said would automatically be tripled under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act.

Palestinian Authority Deputy Minister of Information Dr. Mahmoud Khalifa called the verdict "a tragic disservice" to Palestinians and to the international community" in working toward a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"The charges that were made against us are baseless," he said in a statement.

The victims' lawyers called the jury's decision a win in the fight against terrorism.

"It's about accountability. It's about justice," attorney Kent Yalowitz said.

While the Israeli government said it had no involvement in the case, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism just as the U.S. federal court has done and to back the countries that are fighting terrorism."

The suit against the PLO and Palestinian Authority — as well as another case in Brooklyn federal court against the Jordan-based Arab Bank — had languished for years as the defendants challenged the American courts' jurisdiction. Recent rulings found that they should go forward under the Anti-Terrorism Act, a more than 2-decade-old law that allows victims of U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations to seek compensation for pain and suffering, loss of earnings and other hardship.

While the Palestinian Authority has settled some suits concerning U.S. citizens' killings, this was the first case in which the authority defended an Anti-Terrorism Act suit through a trial, the plaintiffs' lawyers said.

They aim to collect "every dollar" of the damages by pursuing Palestinian Authority and PLO bank accounts, securities accounts, real estate and other property that may be in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere, said attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of Shurat HaDin/Israel Law Center.

That may be difficult, international law experts said.

Collecting judgments can be time-consuming in any case and all the more arduous when they involve a foreign entity with a complicated status as an international actor, noted Jens David Ohlin, a Cornell Law School professor who specializes in international law. The Palestinians gained observer status at the United Nations in 2012, clearing the way for them to join various international organizations.

Diplomacy and foreign policy considerations could enter the equation for countries where the possible assets are held, said Karen Greenberg, the director of Fordham Law School's Center on National Security.

"This is why this case has always been so high-profile — understanding what the consequences would be," she said.

It concerned bombings and shootings in 2002 and 2004, during the second Palestinian uprising. Overall, the second uprising killed around 3,000 Palestinians and more than 1,000 Israelis.

Jurors, who deliberated for less than two days, heard dramatic testimony from relatives of people killed and survivors who never fully recovered. One, Rena Sokolov, described how a family vacation to Israel in 2002 turned to tragedy with a bomb blast outside a Jerusalem shoe store.
___

Associated Press writer Ian Deitch contributed to this report from Jerusalem.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-24

Interesting that a US court was hearing a case concerning events in Israel, but I guess it involved US Citizens. I didn't even know that this case had been brought, but I wonder if any cases involving deadly attacks on Palestine by Israel are also being heard in US courts?

Good news that the truth has been exposed. The Palestinians are supporting terrorism to this day and not just Hamas.

Interesting that a US court was hearing a case concerning events in Israel, but I guess it involved US Citizens. I didn't even know that this case had been brought, but I wonder if any cases involving deadly attacks on Palestine by Israel are also being heard in US courts?

You answered your question with your first sentence. This was about American citizens who were killed. The 12 Americans on the jury said they weren't going to tolerate it.

So maybe the UK should hold a trial on the deaths of their citizens on Koa Tao???

So maybe the UK should hold a trial on the deaths of their citizens on Koa Tao???

Actually these damages were awarded to the families of victims, and to victims who survived but were injured. Also, they proved who did it and pinned it on them. The plaintiffs weren't the government.

The Jewish lobby hard at work at all levels of the US Government.

The Palestinians have the same right to claims as the Israelies.

Why not hold the Israelies accountable for the same, and split the awards 50-50?

Who called or is calling the Palestinians terrorists? The jewish council in New York?

One needs to perhaps consider the venue for this particular action, hence the judgement decision

Brooklyn can hardly be considered heart of a non biased population by any stretch of the imagination.

Wonder what the outcome may have been if the matter was dealt with say in'' Mississippi or Alabama?''

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Good news that the truth has been exposed. The Palestinians are supporting terrorism to this day and not just Hamas.

And the Israelies are?

" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism just as the U.S. federal court has done and to back the countries that are fighting terrorism."".

Those words, completely in context, will come back to haunt him once the ICC decides on the cases against Israel.

Not only the ICC.

This opens the way for any country who has had citizens hurt or killed by Israeli actions to rule, within their own jurisdiction, and award against Israeli government assets within that jurisdiction.

In the interests of fairness and things being a 2-way street, I hope that happens.

Off-topic posts and replies removed. Please stay on the topic.

" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism just as the U.S. federal court has done and to back the countries that are fighting terrorism."".

Those words, completely in context, will come back to haunt him once the ICC decides on the cases against Israel.

Don't think this is going to help the arabs with the ICC. If anything it probably makes it easier for the ICC to kick out any arab claims against Israel.

'... It's about justice," attorney Kent Yalowitz ...' What a surprise; a Jewish name prosecuting, so no liability would be expected to be laid at Israel's door.

'... Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism ...' The Israelis, particularly under Netanyahu, are in no position to expect anything from other countries.

Not only the ICC.

This opens the way for any country who has had citizens hurt or killed by Israeli actions to rule, within their own jurisdiction, and award against Israeli government assets within that jurisdiction.

In the interests of fairness and things being a 2-way street, I hope that happens.

Which countries, which citizens and how are they going to inforce it? And how is it going to help the arabs, now the PA are guilty of terrorism?

Israel is a democracy, they have and do arrest those suspected of crimes against arabs. It is well recorded that this happens. Unlike the PA who celebrate and reward those that commit crimes agaisnt Israelis. They do not arrest perpatrators or jail them.

All things being equal they deserve everything they get. Yet again the arabs find themselves wrong footed.

'... It's about justice," attorney Kent Yalowitz ...' What a surprise; a Jewish name prosecuting, so no liability would be expected to be laid at Israel's door.

'... Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism ...' The Israelis, particularly under Netanyahu, are in no position to expect anything from other countries.

So it's only justice if it involves Israel being guilty. The Arabs being found guilty is just a misscarriage of justice!

So you support terrorism. How very predictable.

Ironic, given that when it comes to Palestine, Israel views itself as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner, and has done for years. For that matter, it views itself as above any man-made law, other than what it suits it.

The problem is exacerbated by the persistence of far too many other countries in treating Israel as the passive underdog, rather than the aggressive offender, and international-law breaker, that it all too often is.

'... It's about justice," attorney Kent Yalowitz ...' What a surprise; a Jewish name prosecuting, so no liability would be expected to be laid at Israel's door.

'... Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We expect the responsible elements in the international community to continue to punish those who support terrorism ...' The Israelis, particularly under Netanyahu, are in no position to expect anything from other countries.

So it's only justice if it involves Israel being guilty. The Arabs being found guilty is just a misscarriage of justice!

So you support terrorism. How very predictable.

Surprising how helpful it is when you read and think at one and the same time.

The jury have decided, the judge has delivered, justice has been served in a democratically run USA.

Final total will be about $655 million, that's a lot of Musakhan.

Good news that the truth has been exposed. The Palestinians are supporting terrorism to this day and not just Hamas.

And some say the Israellis are the terrorists

It is only the truth as this one court sees it

Would like to know what kind of defense the PLO was allowed to put on

The jury have decided, the judge has delivered, justice has been served in a democratically run USA.

Final total will be about $655 million, that's a lot of Musakhan.

sorry not in a million years can I see this being a fair trial in the USA

Good news that the truth has been exposed. The Palestinians are supporting terrorism to this day and not just Hamas.

And some say the Israellis are the terrorists

It is only the truth as this one court sees it

Would like to know what kind of defense the PLO was allowed to put on

They said "we did it but society is to blame".

The jury have decided, the judge has delivered, justice has been served in a democratically run USA.

Final total will be about $655 million, that's a lot of Musakhan.

sorry not in a million years can I see this being a fair trial in the USA

Trial with Judge and jury.....it's the system get over it.

Slanted judge and slanted jury ... not fair is it

Obvious from the get go what the verdict was gonna be

Slanted judge and slanted jury ... not fair is it

Obvious from the get go what the verdict was gonna be

Who was on the jury?

would be like the Iraqis taking the USA to court for the illegal invasion that resulted in 100000's of deaths and holding the trial in Iran

Maybe the afghans should take the USA to court as well and have the trial in Iran as well

Slanted judge and slanted jury ... not fair is it

Obvious from the get go what the verdict was gonna be

Who was on the jury?

Come on Lew that's quite an accusation.

Please tell us the make up of the jury, as you seem to know.

Good news that the truth has been exposed. The Palestinians are supporting terrorism to this day and not just Hamas.

If my lands had been stolen from me by foreign terrorists such as Begin, and then successive superpowers backed these terrorists over the years to subjugate and humiliate me and my people, destroy my way of life and steal my land, I think I would be inclined to inflict ill upon these aggressors. Sow and you will reap.

http://boycottisrael.info/

Ironic, given that when it comes to Palestine, Israel views itself as prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner, and has done for years. For that matter, it views itself as above any man-made law, other than what it suits it.

The problem is exacerbated by the persistence of far too many other countries in treating Israel as the passive underdog, rather than the aggressive offender, and international-law breaker, that it all too often is.

so many words for not a lot to say! Israel controls the West Bank legitimately, by international law.