Hundreds of millions of dollars award of US lower court to the victims of Palestinian terrorism is set to be heard at a New York federal appeals court this week. The hearing will determine whether the case is legitimate to hear the said case.
The Haaretz reported, hearing of the case is scheduled Tuesday at the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. The case is in regards the lower courts $218.5 million award for the 10 families, whom were victims of terrorism attack involving Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The said award was given on February, which automatically tripled to $655.5 million according to a U.S. antiterrorism law. Around the early 2000, 33 people were killed and over 400 sustained injured during shootings and bombings in Israel of the groups. According to Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the US lower court has no jurisdiction to the said case.
Court documents filed by the representing lawyers of the Palestinian group stated, "The Palestinian government's only presence in the U.S. is a small diplomatic mission, and no substantial connection exists between the attacks in Israel and the U.S," Wall Street Journal cited.
The families of the victims argued that the attacks were centered to the US citizens and is purposely made to influence American foreign policy. They went on point out, how U.S. Congress has provided some $5 billion in foreign aid to the Palestinians. The lawsuit was filed initially in 2004, on which Palestinians lawyers tried to dismiss case the nine times, the National Post reported.
Last year in February, a lower court judge ordered the Palestinian Authority to pay for the damages for giving materials, in support to terrorists involved in six bombings and shootings from 2002 to 2004. Until now, terrorism victims have been suing banks for facilitating payments to terrorists for damages.
