Jury Awards $218.5 Million in Terrorism Case Against Palestinian Groups

[DonViejo]

Source: New York Times

The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization were found liable on Monday by a jury in Manhattan for their role in knowingly supporting six terrorist attacks in Israel between 2002 and 2004 in which Americans were killed and injured.

The jury in Federal District Court in Manhattan awarded $218.5 million in damages, a number that is automatically tripled to $655.5 million under the special terrorism law under which the case was brought.

The verdict ended a decade-long legal battle to hold the Palestinian organizations responsible for the terrorist acts. And while the decision was a huge victory for the dozens of plaintiffs, it also could serve to strengthen the Israeli claim that the supposedly more moderate Palestinian forces are directly tied to terrorism.

The financial implications of the verdict for the defendants were not immediately clear. The Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas, had serious financial troubles even before Israel, as punishment for the Palestinians’ move in December to join the International Criminal Court, began withholding more than $100 million a month in tax revenue it collects on the Palestinians’ behalf.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/24/nyregion/damages-awarded-in-terror-case-against-palestinian-groups.html?emc=edit_na_20150223

[cpwm17]

1. More reparations for the Palestinian Nakba

and all of the horrors since – not.

[azurnoir]

2. Shurat HaDin an Israeli lawfare group were representing the plaintiffs in this case

they have admitted they work at the behest of and with evidence provided by the Israeli government, to combat Israel's 'enemies' via avenues closed to governments, they also provide defense for Israeli soldiers charged with various crimes against Palestinians

here is more about their involvement in this case

The heart of the case that Shurat Hadin and Kent Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter LLP have brought on behalf of 11 victims’ families is a move to sue the PA for its alleged involvement in seven terrorist attacks from 2001-2004 during the second intifada.

http://israellawcenter.org/in-the-media-items/first-us-terrorism-trial-against-pa-begins-today/

in the past this outfit has brought suits against Jimmy Carter, the US State Department, and the Presbyterian Church

[Fantastic Anarchist]

3. So, do Palestinians American Nationals get to sue the Israeli government?

I'm wondering if it works both ways.

What about Rachel Corrie - can her family sue the Israeli government for her death?

[azurnoir]

4. short answer NO long answer NO because Israel is a nation recognized the US Palestine is not

recognized by the US

[Fantastic Anarchist]

5. Well, then the PA governs a non-entity ...

... and perhaps, can't be sued if they can't sue.

Yes, I know ... I'm just being academic.

[azurnoir]

9. more from Michael Ratner

It's a really important case, unfortunately. And, of course, it's broadened what I consider to be the power behind the colonial power of Israel. And so its courts are quite favorable to Israel. Imagine bringing a case for damages against the African National Congress in South Africa during apartheid. Imagine bringing a case against the liberation movement of Algeria in Paris during the war for liberation of Algeria. Well, that's the equivalent of what you have in bringing a case against the Palestinian Authority, which is what this case is against, in the courts of the United States.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=13254

[JDPriestly]

6. What firm or organization defended the Palestinians?

[azurnoir]

8. I'm not sure that any organization represented the Palestinians a guy named Roshon was mentioned

I get the impression he's American

[Ash_F]

7. Israel collects $100 million a month in taxes from who? /nt

[starroute]

10. It's customs duties on goods shipped to Palestine

http://news.yahoo.com/israel-tax-freeze-aims-collapse-palestinian-authority-145950591.html

A top Palestinian official on Sunday accused Israel of trying to topple the Palestinian Authority by continuing its freeze on millions of dollars in crucial tax monies. . . .

"This money is not Israeli money nor donors’ money, this is an unprecedented act of piracy," he railed.

Every month, Israel transfers to the PA around $127 million in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports - revenues which collectively make up around two-thirds of the Authority's annual budget, excluding foreign aid.

But on January 2, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended the December funds as a punitive measure after the Palestinians moved to join the International Criminal Court, where they could potentially sue Israel for alleged war crimes.

[Ash_F]

12. Disgusting

Reminds me of "no taxation without representation"

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. Can the Palestinians sue us for aiding and abetting their decades of oppression?

How many billions have we given Israel to keep its boot on their necks?