Bereaved families file class action suit against Barghouti

Two families who have lost loved ones in terror attacks have filed a class-action suit against the Palestinian Authority, former Fatah Secretary-General in the West Bank Marwan Barghouti, and seven other terrorists held in Israel.

Barghouti, who was arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces in 2002, was convicted of the murder of five Israelis and was sentences to five consecutive life terms and 40 years – a total of 165 years. The other seven, who were all convicted of various terror offenses, are also serving long-term prison sentences.

The plaintiffs are family members of Ronen Landau and Yoella Chen who were killed seven years ago in two separate terror attacks. Chen was killed in a shooting attack at a bus station in Jerusalem, which was carried out on Barghouti's direct orders.

Overall, fourteen members of the two bereaved families are named as the plaintiffs in the NIS 450 million suit (approx. $128 million) – one of the largest class-action suits ever filed in Israel.

Barghouti, said attorneys Nitzana Darshan-Leitner and Roee Cohavi of the Israel Law Center, who are representing the families, led, facilitated and personally ordered terror attacks on Israeli targets with the aid of various Tanzim operatives.

Furthermore, said the motion, in his capacity as Fatah Secretary-General, Barghouti devised a policy of terror uncensored by the Palestinian Authority, and should be held accountable for the plaintiffs' emotional anguish.

"Barghouti is a felon and a convicted murderer and should be treated as such, especially in this day and age, when we hear so many calls to free this arch-murderer. Giving the plaintiffs the justice they deserve, would be serving justice for all Israelis," they said.