NEW YORK
A federal court here found the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority liable for supporting several attacks in Israel more than 10 years ago, local media reported Monday.
A 12-member jury in Manhattan awarded victims of the attacks more than $218 million in damages for a series of attacks between 2002 and 2004 in Jerusalem that killed 33 people and wounded more than 450, according to the New York Times.
The Palestinian groups denied involvement in the attacks and argued they should not be held accountable for the actions of extremists.
The lawsuit, which dates back to 2004, was filed in the U.S. as some of the victims were American nationals.
The $218.5 million fine could be tripled under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act.
Families of the victims, led by Mark I. Sokolow, allege that the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority "has funded, planned and carried out thousands of terrorist bombings and shootings, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians and the wounding of thousands more."
The jury returned with a verdict after six weeks of deliberations in which they heard testimony from survivors.
PA says to appeal fine imposed by US jury
The Palestinian government said, however, that the federal jury had overlooked legal precedents showing that U.S. court had no jurisdiction over such cases.
"Nevertheless, concerned offices within the PLO will appeal the decision," the government said.
It expressed confidence that justice would be achieved for the Palestinian people at the end of the day.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, meanwhile, hailed the U.S. court decision as a "moral victory for the state of Israel and victims of terrorism."
The U.S. jury's decision comes at a time the Palestinian government suffers an acute financial crisis after Israel withheld hundreds of millions of dollars in tax money Israel collects on the PA behalf.
Netanyahu hails US court fine against PA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed a U.S. court verdict to fine Palestinian authorities $218.5 million for responsibility over Palestinians' attacks on Israel's Jews during last decade's Second Intifada.
"The U.S. federal court’s decision confirms the Palestinian Authority (PA)’s responsibility for murderous terrorist attacks committed during the previous decade," the Israeli premier was quoted by daily The Jerusalem Post as saying on Tuesday.
"Instead of drawing the appropriate conclusions, the PA is moving forward with steps that are a danger to regional stability like its hypocritical application to the International Criminal Court, this while it is involved in an alliance with the Hamas terror organization.
"We expect responsible players in the international community to continue and punish those who support terrorism, as the U.S. federal court did, and to support the countries combating terrorism," he added.
On Monday, a federal jury found both PA and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) guilty of supporting six attacks in Israel between 2001 and 2004. The jury ordered the two Palestinian entities to pay $218.5 million to the families of the slain Jews.
The ruling was instigated by a lawsuit filed in 2004 under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows U.S. "victims of international terrorism" to seek compensation in domestic courts.
The Palestinian government has said, however, that the federal jury had overlooked legal precedents showing that U.S. court had no jurisdiction over such cases.
"Concerned offices within the PLO will appeal the decision," the Ramallah-based government said.
It expressed confidence that justice would be achieved for the Palestinian people at the end of the day.
