Non-Israeli Jews can sue for damages in country’s courts

The Jerusalem District Court ruled yesterday that Jews worldwide who faced discrimination or came under attack because of their religion could file for damages in Israeli court even if they are not nationals, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

Judge Moshe Drori based the ruling on the controversial “Nation-State law” which stipulates that “Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People, according to which the Jewish State is responsible for ensuring the well-being of its citizens and of those of Jewish origin who were affected by anti-Semitism”.

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The paper said the ruling was passed during a case filed on behalf of two Jewish American women who were held hostages by men affiliated with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) when they hijacked the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in 1985.

According to the paper, this is the second time that Drori has used the “Nation-State law” to issue such rulings. In September, he ruled that Palestinian resistance movement Hamas must compensate a man who was injured in one of the movement’s activities.