A US federal appeals court has reinstated a $656 million judgment against the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority, following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed lawsuits by American victims of attacks in Israel.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had originally thrown out the verdict a decade ago, ruling that US courts could not hear cases against foreign groups for overseas attacks not aimed at the United States. However, the court reversed its decision after the Supreme Court upheld a 2019 law permitting such lawsuits.
“We conclude that the original judgment for the plaintiffs should be reinstated. That conclusion is consistent with the plain import of the Supreme Court’s decision,” the judges said in a ruling dated March 30.
The victims and their families had sued under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1992, alleging that Palestinian agents were involved in or incited the attacks. Attorney Kent Yalowitz said, “Our client families are very relieved that the court has reinstated the judgment without requiring a new trial. They have been waiting for a very long time for justice to be done.”
The Palestinian authorities have consistently argued that the cases should not be heard in US courts. Emails seeking comment from their attorneys were not immediately answered.
