_a.jpg "צילום: ירון ברנר")
Attorney Oren Gutterman. Fighting terror
Photo: Yaron Brenner
Bereaved families file lawsuit in US against Lebanese banks
Under US law allowing foreigners to claim damage, injuries, 60 Israelis file claim with New York Federal Court against Lebanese banks for allegedly aiding Hizbullah during Second Lebanon War
Israelis who have lost their dear ones or were injured during the Second Lebanon War have filed a lawsuit in the US against Lebanese banks who they claim had aided Hizbullah during the conflict. The amount of the claim is estimated at $100 million.
The claim was signed by 60 Israelis and was filed at the New York Federal Court against five banks, claiming they held accounts and knowingly provided financial services to Hizbullah and its fundraising entity IRSO (Islamic Resistance Support Organization) – openly raising capital to fund the organizations’ terror activities. The claim states that the banks violated international law.
The respondents are Fransabank, Lebanon Commerce Bank, Bank of Beirut, French-Lebanese Bank, and MEAB (Middle East Africa Bank.) Other financial institutions whose names have yet to be disclosed have been served a statement of claim.
Attorney Oren Gutterman specializing in damage and injuries is representing the claimants together with two US attorneys. According to Gutterman, the lawsuit is based on an America law allowing foreign citizens to file a damage or injury claim in the US and is open to additional claimants who wish to join.
Gutterman added that the lawsuit is part of the international efforts to fight terror by curbing the cash flow to various terror organizations. The way to do that is making terror aid uneconomical by the court placing high penalty amounts on the banks helping to fund those organizations, he said.
Two months ago, some 50 Americans hit by rockets and terror attacks filed a lawsuit on the amount of half a billion dollars against a Swiss bank, claiming the bank has been funding Hizbullah, Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad.
The statement of claim shows that the bank had transferred money to Iran despite the US federal prohibition, and was used to find terror activities.
