The suit states, "Arab Bank is accused of knowingly aiding and abetting Palestinian terror by funneling and distributing money to Palestinian martyr families through their branches."
Three major law firms are representing the 117 American citizens. The suit alleges that the Jordan-based Arab Bank illegally funneled money for terrorism from so-called Islamic charities, including those of Hamas, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations.
Among the families represented are those of Dr. David Applebaum and his daughter Nava, who were killed in a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's Cafe Hillel the night before her wedding was to take place. Another plaintiff is the family of American filmmaker Jack Baxter who was working on a documentary on terrorism when he was seriously wounded by Palestinian terrorists at Mike's Place in Tel Aviv in 2003; three people were killed in that attack.
The suit argues that Arab Bank violated U.S. law and accepted money which it "essentially laundered… to the families of suicide bombers as incentives and rewards for their participation in the murdering of Americans and Israelis."
"The funds intended for terrorist groups were converted into U.S. dollars at and through its American operations at its Madison Avenue Branch," the suit claims. "These funds were then re-routed to local branches of Arab Bank" in Israel, where the money was distributed to terrorists and their families.
Lawyer Mark Werbner said, "We have made some detailed allegations and intend to prove that Arab Bank is being used to help finance terrorist groups."
Three major law firms are representing the 117 American citizens. The suit alleges that the Jordan-based Arab Bank illegally funneled money for terrorism from so-called Islamic charities, including those of Hamas, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations.
Among the families represented are those of Dr. David Applebaum and his daughter Nava, who were killed in a suicide bombing at Jerusalem's Cafe Hillel the night before her wedding was to take place. Another plaintiff is the family of American filmmaker Jack Baxter who was working on a documentary on terrorism when he was seriously wounded by Palestinian terrorists at Mike's Place in Tel Aviv in 2003; three people were killed in that attack.
The suit argues that Arab Bank violated U.S. law and accepted money which it "essentially laundered… to the families of suicide bombers as incentives and rewards for their participation in the murdering of Americans and Israelis."
"The funds intended for terrorist groups were converted into U.S. dollars at and through its American operations at its Madison Avenue Branch," the suit claims. "These funds were then re-routed to local branches of Arab Bank" in Israel, where the money was distributed to terrorists and their families.
Lawyer Mark Werbner said, "We have made some detailed allegations and intend to prove that Arab Bank is being used to help finance terrorist groups."