More than 1,000 Israelis demand NIS 20 billion in compensation from the bank • "The bank and its administrators systematically assisted terrorism" • A $ 4 billion compensation was set in a similar US lawsuit

• The Arab Bank in Jordan // Photo: Islands. Nose. times

An unprecedented claim of over NIS 20 billion was filed yesterday by 1,132 prosecutors, victims of terrorist acts and family members of murderers, against the Arab Bank Plc, based in Jordan. The cause: cooperation, support, assistance, financing and encouragement from the Bank for terrorist activities, which took thousands of victims.

This is the first time a lawsuit has been filed against a bank for its involvement in terrorist financing. Previous claims by victims of terrorism were against the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. Prosecutors say the Arab bank was involved in financing terrorist attacks that took place in Israel by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and other organizations.

The murderous attack at the Park Hotel in Netanya, Seder 2002 // Photo: Tal Cohen

Prosecutors, Israeli citizens, victims of terrorism and the families of terror victims who were murdered or injured between 1995 and 2005 in terrorist attacks carried out by terrorist organizations in the territories of the State of Israel, Judea and Gaza. These attacks have taken the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians and wounded thousands, Using suicide bombers, explosives and shooting.

Among the attacks listed in the lawsuit: a terrorist suicide bombing outside Dizengoff Center in 1996 and the murder of 13 people; Suicide bomber attack at the entrance to the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium Club in 2001, which resulted in 21 people being murdered and more than 120 injured; Numerous shooting attacks on passenger vehicles; A terrorist attack by a suicide bomber at the Sabaru restaurant in central Jerusalem in 2001 that resulted in the murder of 15 and the injuries of over 100 people; The attack on the "Park" hotel in Netanya on the Seder night in 2002, which resulted in the killing of 30 and wounding 160 people and other terrorist attacks and incidents that cost the lives of hundreds of people and wounded thousands.

More on:

A hard hand against terrorism, and not just a campaign

Published for publication: Shin Bet revealed terrorist infrastructure of the Popular Front in Judea and Samaria

Terrorism in Europe: Stabbing events in The Hague and London

The defendant Arab Bank is one of the largest banks in the Arab world, operating through some 600 branches worldwide and through affiliates and affiliates. The lawsuit claims that the Arab Bank, its employees and managers formed an integral part of the terrorist activity, knowingly and deliberately and consistently and systematically assisted in financing the activities of terrorists and Palestinian terrorist organizations.

The Bank has taken an active and substantial role in collecting donations worldwide to fund and support the families of suicide bombers, wounded and prisoners. The bank also managed the distribution of funds, contrary to generally accepted banking practice. It is alleged that the Bank's involvement in counter-terrorism was also more direct: At the beginning of the Second Intifada, in 2000, the Chairman of the Arab Bank, Abd al-Majid Schumann, established the "Fund to Support the Palestinian People's Resistance", which was intended to support the Second Intifada. Pledged to donate $ 500,000 from his pocket, and the bank added a pledge to donate another $ 2 million.

Attorney Markman and Attorney Maman // Photo: Ami Ehrlich

The lawsuit in Israel comes after a similar lawsuit, filed in the United States in 2004, came to an end last year, with a compromise under which $ 1 billion in compensation was paid. Therefore, it was decided to file a similar claim in Israel, in the name of Israeli citizens who were cleared of the claim in the US, demanding compensation in excess of NIS 20 billion - consisting of special damages, punitive damages and future damages that cannot be determined.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Gilad Markman and attorney Benjamin Perlman of Markman's law firm Tomskin who specializes in tort law and by attorney Gil Maman and attorney Gabriel Miron of the law firm MM - Law, who specializes in terrorist financing lawsuits, genocide And crimes against humanity.