Palestinian Authority Might Be Sued In The US--By An Arab

In the US, lawsuits have become a tool in the war against terrorism--where the families of those murdered by Palestinian terrorists have sued the terrorists themselves as well as the banks and charities that lend support to those groups.

But in those cases, Jews were suing terrorist groups.

Now an Arab wants to sue the Palestinian Authority and the PLO:

The [Supreme] court said it will hear the case in conjunction with another, Mohamad v. Rajoub. It involves a suit filed under the Torture Victim Protection Act by the widow of Azzam Rahim, a U.S. citizen who was allegedly tortured and killed in 1995 in Jericho.

The suit named the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the law allows lawsuits only against an individual who violates human rights, rather than a political organization.

At issue is the language of the Torture Victim Protection Act:

The Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991 allows lawsuits to be brought in U.S. courts against “any individual who, under actual or apparent authority, or color of law, of any foreign nation” subjects another individual to torture. The question presented is whether the law’s use of the phrase “any individual” means that only people may be sued under the law, or whether it also applies to (and allows lawsuits against) organizations.

It was only 3 years ago that the Palestinian Authority decided that it would change its policy of not contesting  lawsuits and to defend itself in US courts.

Imagine how many other Arab families would like to take advantage, if they could sue the PA for torturing their loved ones.

Technorati Tag: Palestine and Palestinian Authority.