Judge allows suits against PLO, Palestinian Authority to go forward

A federal judge in Manhattan has ruled that the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization will face trial in January in a lawsuit brought on behalf of victims of seven terror attacks in Jerusalem a decade ago.

U.S. District Judge George Daniels denied an effort by the PLO and the PA to have the suit dismissed before trial, ruling there was enough evidence of claims that the groups were complicit in the attacks to justify having a jury determine the facts.

The lawsuit was brought in 2004 on behalf of members of 11 U.S. families injured in the attacks. The claims are made under the federal Anti Terrorism Act, the same law successfully used to win a landmark liability verdict against Arab Bank this year.

The judge on Wednesday said the plaintiffs had presented triable claims that the PLO and the PA supported attacks by Hamas and another group with material support that included weapons, money and personnel. They are seeking $1 billion.