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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

US judge allows terror victims' lawsuit against PA, PLO over 'pay-for-slay' to proceed- interview

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A US federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization to proceed, alleging their financial support for terrorists encouraged attacks that killed Americans.
  • The lawsuit claims the PA's commitment to pay prisoners who commit acts of terrorism constitutes assistance under the Antiterrorism Act, a claim the PA attempted to dismiss.
  • The ruling means the case will be decided on evidence, offering a path to justice for the families of victims like Taylor Force and Hananel Gez.

A US federal judge has permitted a lawsuit against the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization to move forward, rejecting their attempt to dismiss claims that their financial support for imprisoned terrorists encouraged attacks resulting in American deaths.

Stuart Force buried his son more than ten years ago and has spent the decade since heroically doing everything he can to force this program into the light; the federal statute condemning it carries Taylor’s name.

— Rabbi Dr. Mark GoldfederDirector of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, commenting on the lawsuit's progression.

US District Judge Colleen McMahon ruled that the PA's public commitment to pay Palestinian prisoners who commit acts of terrorism can be considered assistance under the Antiterrorism Act. The lawsuit was brought by Stuart Force, father of Taylor Force, who was stabbed to death in 2016, and Hananel Gez, who survived an attack that killed his pregnant wife and newborn son.

Hananel Gez buried his wife, and fifteen days later he buried the newborn son she was on her way to deliver. It is too horrible to even think about.

— Rabbi Dr. Mark GoldfederDirector of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, describing the impact of the attacks on the plaintiffs.

Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center representing the plaintiffs, stated that the PA's attempt to evade the lawsuit had a profound impact on the victims. He emphasized that the court's decision means the case will be decided on evidence, not just the defendants' assertions. "For the families, this order means the case will be decided on evidence rather than on the defendants’ say-so, and they intend to see it through," Goldfeder said.

The defendants’ answer to these two men was a motion arguing that they should be turned away before a single document changed hands, including the remarkable suggestion that Mr. Force’s earlier pursuit of justice should bar this one. The court has now rejected that.

— Rabbi Dr. Mark GoldfederDirector of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, explaining the significance of the judge's ruling.

The PA and PLO's motion to dismiss was based on four arguments: that payments made after an attack do not constitute aiding the attack; that the connection to specific Hamas attacks was too remote given their willingness to fund terrorists from any faction; that Hamas and the PA were enemies; and that Stuart Force was barred from bringing the suit due to earlier legal actions. The judge's rejection of these arguments allows the case to proceed.

For the families, this order means the case will be decided on evidence rather than on the defendants’ say-so, and they intend to see it through.

— Rabbi Dr. Mark GoldfederDirector of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, on the implications of the judge's decision for the victims' families.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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