Americans suing banks for financing Palestinian terrorism

Washington, April 16 (DPA) Around 50 Americans who were injured or lost family members in Palestinian terrorist bombings are seeking millions of dollars in damages through cases filed in Brooklyn's federal court against three international banks.

The Arab Bank, NatWest and Credit Lyonnais are charged with channelling money to Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation blamed for a number of terrorist attacks aimed at Israel, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The victims of the bombings were Americans visiting Israel who were caught up in the attacks.

The suits represent a relatively unusual approach in the field of justice, as international banks have not been sued in this way before. A judge is allowing the Arab Bank suit to go forward, but has not yet ruled on the other two banks.

The Jordan-based Arab Bank is charged with moving millions of dollars from a private charity in Saudi Arabia - the Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada al Quds - to Hamas front organisations. Hundreds of documents filed by the claimants purport to show that the Arab Bank worked closely with the Saudi group to open accounts and pay insurance benefits to families of Hamas suicide bombers, the Times reported.

The Arab Bank has insisted it only made routine electronic transfers to its Palestinian branches.

The report appeared as the international community steps up pressure on the new Hamas-controlled Palestinian government to renounce terrorism, recognise Israel's right to exist and work toward peace.

The US and EU are suspending the flow of money to the Palestinian Authority (PA) for government expenses such as roads, sewers and police. Arab countries, except for Iran, have also rebuffed Hamas' search for financial support.

In recent days, the US Treasury Department ruled that US citizens may have no financial dealings with the PA because Hamas - declared a terrorist group by the US in 1997 - has a 'property interest' in the PA's transactions.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, in Tehran Saturday declared that the new Palestinian ruling party would never recognise Israel.

Hamas, which has spearheaded the 'intifada' (uprising) against Israel since 2000, won January elections, ousting the Fatah party of the late Yasser Arafat.

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