The Tel Aviv District Court yesterday ordered Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman Yasser Arafat to pay the Egged bus cooperative NIS 52 million. Egged filed suit against the PA and Arafat, claiming they were responsible for monetary damages caused by suicide bombings and terrorist attacks on Egged bus lines.
Egged asserted that the amount of the claim included loss of income caused by the suicide bombings and terrorist attacks during the first year of the intifada (September 2000-August 2000).
The Egged bus cooperative attached to its claim a report, prepared by a team headed by Minister without Portfolio Dan Naveh. Among other things, the report determined that Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat was personally involved in allocating funds to terrorists. The report also found that the PA had granted continuous institutional financial assistance to terrorists and their infrastructure. The PA security apparatus, directly subordinate to Arafat, both directly and indirectly aided terrorist operations and infrastructure.
Egged asked for a judgment against Arafat, who did not file a statement of defense. Judge Adi Azar asked Egged to attach an affidavit in support of a judgment against Arafat.
After the affidavit was filed, Azar yesterday ruled against Arafat for the full amount of the claim, plus NIS 100,000 in legal costs.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 4, 2003