A landmark decision by the Yerushalayim District Court on Tuesday may redefine the approach to combating terrorism. The court ruled that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO are liable to pay tens of millions of shekels in compensation to the families of those killed in the 2001 Sbarro bombing.
This case is rooted in a deeply personal tragedy. Attorney Meir Schijveschuurder, who is spearheading the legal proceedings, lost his parents and three younger siblings in the attack. “It will bring relief to the victims’ families,” said Schijveschuurder, who is now advocating on behalf of about eighty victims of terror.
The ruling draws on a pivotal 2022 Supreme Court decision, which determined that the Palestinian Authority holds responsibility for terror attacks because it provided financial support to the families of the perpetrators. Compensation amounts could reach as high as NIS 10 million per victim.
The broader significance of this verdict is that it sets a precedent for other families of terror victims, including those affected by the events of October 7th, to seek damages from the Palestinian Authority. The money is expected to come from tax revenues that Israel withholds from the PA.
“The State of Israel, through the court, will bring violent terror to a halt,” Schijveschuurder told Channel 12 News, “because the Palestinians will not be able to afford it economically.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
