BICOM

A jury in a US federal court in Manhattan yesterday found that the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) are both liable for supporting six terrorist attacks in Israel more than 10 years ago.

The long-running case was brought by the families of 10 American citizens who were injured or killed in the attacks between 2002 and 2004 which killed 33 people and which were part of a wave of terror which killed more than 1,000 Israelis. The attacks in question included the suicide bombings of the cafeteria at the Hebrew University in 2002 and a public bus two years later. The lawsuit itself was first filed in 2004 under the US Antiterrorism Act with the judge subsequently rejecting several attempts by the PA and PLO to dismiss the case. Testimony began in January with the prosecution arguing that payments made to the families of terrorists is one aspect of the material support given to terror by the PA and PLO.

Although it is unclear exactly how yesterday’s judgement will be enforced, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said, “Now the PLO and the PA know there is a price for supporting terrorism.” The ruling could also complicate the PA’s ambitions at the International Criminal Court (ICC) of which it became a member at the end of last year. The PA is hoping to convince the court to investigate Israel for alleged war crimes during Operation Protective Edge. However, yesterday’s ruling leaves the PA potentially open to further investigation itself.

Responding to the ruling, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “On this day, we remember the families who lost their loved ones,” but that the decision “confirms the Palestinian Authority’s responsibility for murderous terrorist attacks.” Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid commented, “This is a just and historic decision which sends a clear message – there is no immunity for terrorism and there can be no compromises when facing it.”