US JURY ORDERS PALESTINIANS TO PAY $218 OVER ATTACKS

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) defense lawyer Mark Rochon (C) exits the Manhattan Federal Courthouse following a jury’s decision in New York on February 23, 2015.(Photo: Press Tv)

New York, 5 Jumadil Awwal 1436/24 February 2015 (MINA) – A US jury has blamed Palestinian groups of carrying out violent attacks in the Israeli occupied territories more than a decade ago that allegedly killed several people.

The 12-member jury in Manhattan, New York, awarded the victims and their families $218.5 million in damages on Monday, Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The amount would automatically be tripled under the US Anti-Terrorism Act, which means that the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have to pay more than $655.5 million.

Israel hailed the ruling as “moral victory”. An Israeli lawyer has said that she would leave no stone unturned in forcing the Palestinians to pay.

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The cases relate to the second Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against Israel between January 2002 and January 2004.

The Palestinian deputy information minister expressed dismay at the verdict.

Mahmoud Khalifa said the case is politically-motivated and vowed to appeal against “baseless” charges.

“We are confident that we will prevail, as we have faith in the US legal system and are certain about our common sense belief and our strong legal standing,” he said in a statement. (T/P011/P3)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)