Americans in Israel Sue Clinton for US Funding of PLO terror

wo dozen Americans in Israel are suing U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for negligence in allowing the United States to fund the Palestinian Authority, which used money for terror.

The suit was filed in a federal U.S. court in Washington by the Israel Law Center (Shurat HaDin), which has revolutionized the war against terror through “lawfare,” winning colossal lawsuits against terrorist organizations and banks that handle their funds.

The Federal suit alleges that the U.S. State Department violated the Anti-Terrorism Act, and abandoned Congressional safeguards, transparency and reportingrequirements.

Clinton allegedly ignored congressional safeguards and transparency requirementsattached to American aid to the Palestinian Authority, the Law Center stated.

The plaintiffs also claim that the White House has not been complying with the regulations and reporting obligations governing presidential waivers which facilitate emergency funding to the PA.

The United States Department of State, under the  Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, is prohibited from providing “material support” to proscribed terrorist groups.

It is estimated that since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, the United States State Department, via USAID, has given over $4 billion to PA Arabs, with portions of that funding illegally landing in the hands of terrorists. During the last four fiscal years, average aid has been roughly $600 million per year.

Additionally, the United States gives approximately $200 million to the United Nations body UNRWA each year, and during the fiscal years 2008 and 2009, UNRWA gave roughly $500 million of their funding to recipients in the West Bank and Gaza.

Under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the State Department is required to certify that the Palestinian government is committed to a peace co-existence with Israel before distributing funds, and ensure that no part of funding is used for Palestinian terrorism.   

“As a result of this non-compliance, US funds have been flowing to terror groups like Hamas, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine\ (PFLP) and the Palestine Liberation Front,” the Israel Law center wrote.

The Americans in Israel filed the lawsuit, relying on the basis that they are among those that Congress sought to protect through the safeguards and regulations that the White House, State Department and USAID are disregarding.

USAID distributes funds for programs in the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Refugee Worker's Administration (UNRWA) in Gaza. Arutz Sheva previously disclosed evidence (here and here) that many of the programs are used to incite terror.

The suit asks the federal court to review the conduct of the State Department and the safeguards on funds, with an order to suspend future U.S. aid to the PA and UNRWA until the Obama administration complies with Congressionally legislated regulations.  

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, the director of  Israel Law Center, stressed that "once handed over, US funding of the PA and UNRWA is difficult to trace and the State Department has been lax in requiring the Palestinians to utilize bank accounts and other transfer methodsthat ensure transparency."

The founder of the Israeli counter-terror group added that "elements of the US Government, particularly the State Department and USAID, are breaking the law and must cease all funding of the PA immediately. US aid to the Palestinians is killing innocent people.”

New York attorney Norman Steiner, who also is representing the plaintiffs, added, "The American people are opposed to terror and do not want to fund it via their taxes. The ongoing non-compliance of the White House and State Department with Congressionally mandated protections cannot be allowed to continue."