PLO faces US trial over terror attacks in Israel

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) is due in court in the New York this week to determine whether it should pay up to $1 billion to victims of the shootings and bombings that occurred in the occupied city of Jerusalem more than ten years ago.

Jury selection for the civil trial, which is expected to last for 12 weeks, will begin on Tuesday.

“The case concerns seven shootings and bombings from 2001 to 2004 that killed 33 people and wounded more than 450,” Reuters reported.

The case is set to determine whether the PLO carried out and financed attacks which supported Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which the US labelled terrorist organisations.

Reuters said: “If the PLO loses the case, it could drag out appeals for years and could be unable to pay a big judgment.”

In similar lawsuits, plaintiffs have found it difficult to collect damages as the defendants have few assets in the US or none at all. There is also a fear that other countries will not abide by any US ruling in this regard.