A verdict of US$656 million against Palestinian authorities was reinstated by a United States appeals court, after a Supreme Court decision favorable to Americans killed or injured in attacks in Israel.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s decision comes a decade after the court itself had struck down a ruling against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority, on the argument that American courts could not adjudicate actions against foreign groups for attacks abroad that did not target the United States.
But the appeals court reinstated the conviction in light of a Supreme Court ruling, in June of last year, that upheld a 2019 law allowing victims’ lawsuits to proceed against the PLO and the Palestinian Authority.
“We conclude that the original decision in favor of the plaintiffs must be reinstated. This conclusion is consistent with the clear reach of the Supreme Court’s decision,” the judges said in a ruling dated March 30.
“Our client families are very relieved that the court has reinstated the conviction without requiring a new trial. They have waited a long time for justice to be done,” said attorney Kent Yalowitz, in an email.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, another attorney for the plaintiffs, said she was pleased with the decision after 22 years of litigation.
The victims had filed the action under the Antiterrorism Act of 1992, which allows U.S. courts to hear suits by victims of international terrorist attacks. The victims and their families contend that Palestinian agents were involved in the attacks or incited them.
The Palestinians have consistently argued that the cases should not be heard in American courts.
*With information from the Associated Press.
