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| By: israelinsider staff and partners |
| Published: January 30, 2007 |
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In federal court in Brooklyn, U.S. District Judge Nina Gershon handed down a decision upholding a lawsuit filed under U.S. law that gives non-U.S. citizens access to courts in order to challenge violations of international laws or treaties. The suit, filed in 2004, claims that Arab Bank aided terrorism by acting as the administrator of an "insurance plan" by the Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds, which paid $5,300 to the families of Palestinian bombers killed in attacks by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
Lawyers for Arab Bank asked Gershon to toss out the suit, arguing that U.S. courts lacked proper jurisdiction. Though the judge dismissed portions of the suit, her ruling still allows thousands of suicide bombing victims and their families to seek unspecified damages, said a plaintiff lawyer, Michael Elsner.
"Today was an incredible victory for victims of suicide bombing attacks and other acts of violence in Israel and an important lesson to banks and private individuals that aid and abet acts of terrorism," Elsner said. "They may be held civilly liable in the United States, even if those acts occur outside the United States."
AP contributed to this article. |
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