Israel Law Center does it again

Civil Rights Group Threatens Civil Action Against the PLO’s Washington, D.C. Landlord and Verizon on Behalf of Victims of Terrorism

(New York) Civil rights group Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center has warned the landlord of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (“PLO”) office in Washington, D.C. and the Verizon telephone company that providing premises, phone lines and other associated services to the PLO is illegal and will expose the landlord and Verizon to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to American citizens and others victimized by PLO-sponsored terrorism. In letters sent to Endeka Enterprises LLC, the owner of the premises that house the PLO’s offices and Verizon which provides them telephone service, the Law Center demanded written confirmation that Endeka and Verizon permanently discontinue providing services to the PLO.

For copies of the letters click here and here.

Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center is an international human rights law organization dedicated to enforcing basic human rights through the legal system and to representing victims of terrorism in courtrooms around the world. The letter was sent by Shurat HaDin director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner and American counsel Robert J. Tolchin.

According to Shurat HaDin, the PLO is an umbrella group that acts for the benefit of its constituent factions. One of the PLO’s key members is the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (“PFLP”) organization. The PFLP constitutes the second largest faction in the PLO and shares the PLO’s budget. Additionally, last month the PLO reached a strategic partnership agreement with Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad (“PIJ”) under which the PLO, Hamas and PIJ coordinate activities.

The PFLP is officially designated under United States law as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” as a “Specially Designated Terrorist,” and as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist.” Both Hamas and PIJ are officially designated under U.S. law as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

As the letter states, “The PLO’s funding is shared and distributed among its constituent members, including the PFLP. The PLO’s activities are carried out specifically for the benefit of its constituent members, including the PFLP. Similarly, pursuant to their recent leadership merger agreement, Hamas and PIJ will also be recipients of these services and benefits.”

According to Shurat HaDin, the law is strict when it comes to aiding and abetting terrorism, citing the United States Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, ––– U.S. ––––, 130 S.Ct. 2705 (2010), which found that providing any assistance or support to terrorists, including putatively benign forms of assistance (such as providing rental space or telephone services) is criminal.

As such, the provision of premises and telephone services to the PLO, which ultimately inures to the benefit and interests of the PLFP, Hamas and PIJ, all designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, would constitute the type of seemingly innocuous material support that would render companies criminally and civilly liable. This includes liability for terrorist attacks carried out by the PLO, PFLP, Hamas or PIJ.

Shurat HaDin director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said,

“The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is a designated terrorist organization that American citizens and companies are prohibited to provide services to, is an integral part of the PLO and shares the PLO’s budget. Thus, by providing services to the PLO, companies like Enedka and Verizon are in fact providing services to and benefitting the PFLP, and thereby violating federal antiterrorism laws and aiding and abetting Palestinian terrorism.”

For more information: nitsanad@zahav.net.il
(New York) Tel: 718-855-3627
(Israel) Tel: +972 523837020