B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is deeply disappointed by the U.S. government’s intervention on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as it petitions a New York federal court that ruled the PA and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) liable for terrorist attacks that killed 33 Americans and injured more than 450 during the Second Intifada.

The administration filed a “statement of interest” expressing its concerns of a PA financial collapse should the Palestinian government be forced to pay out $665.5 million in damages to 10 American families.

The historic ruling was announced in February when the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York jury sided with the plaintiffs, awarding them $218.5 million in damages, a figure that triples to $655.5 million under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act. It was the first case successfully prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

There needs to be a price paid for committing acts of terror and the means available to prosecute those responsible. While the victims’ families cannot bring their loved ones back, they can go to the courts to achieve redress. That is the process that led to the court’s ruling.

If the Palestinian leadership, and those who plan and give the orders to carry out terrorist acts, know they can escape any punishment in the United States, what barrier would there be to additional attacks against American citizens?

The judgment of the court should stand.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International lauds the jury in a New York federal court for handing down a historic verdict in the battle against terror, finding the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) liable for terrorist attacks that killed 33 Americans and injured more than 450 during the Second Intifada.

The plaintiffs included 10 American families whose relatives were killed or injured from 2002 to 2004. They argued that the PA and PLO provided direct and ancillary assistance to the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks, as well as financial compensation to those imprisoned and to the families of those who died. The U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York jury awarded the plaintiffs $218.5 million in damages, a figure that triples to $655.5 million under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act. 

In an era of rising terrorism, this verdict sets a legal and moral standard for the often onerous pursuit of justice against perpetrators. Moreover, this verdict is a symbolic victory for the families of those Americans killed by the PA and the PLO in the past, such as the U.S. Ambassador to Sudan Cleo Noel, Jr., who was taken hostage and shot by PLO militants in 1973.

No sum of money can ever heal the pain and suffering of the victims’ families, but this decision, for the first time, has brought a measure of justice to those seeking redress for these murderous acts.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International mourns the loss of 4-year-old Adele Biton, who died yesterday due to complications from pneumonia, two years after she was critically wounded in a Palestinian terror attack. Biton’s death should further highlight the fact that stone-throwing is not a peaceful protest, as is sometimes portrayed in the media, and can lead to deadly consequences.

In a 2013 attack near Ariel, Israel, Palestinian attackers threw stones at a truck, causing the driver to slam on the brakes. Adele, her mother Adva Biton, and two sisters were in the car behind the truck. They were also hit by the stones and Adva lost control of the vehicle, striking the truck in front of them. Adele was critically injured in the attack and sustained major neurological injuries as a result.

Adva is adamant that because of the injuries Adele incurred during the attack, her body was unable to deal with pneumonia, resulting in her death.

B’nai B’rith’s thoughts and prayers go out to Adele’s family during this trying time. 

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith strongly condemns the terror attack that left at least 12 dead and 10 wounded in the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Three masked gunmen stormed the building seeking out those who worked at the paper. They escaped after hijacking a car. A city-wide manhunt is underway.

In the letter to French Ambassador Gérard Araud, B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin extend their thoughts and prayers to all those affected: “During this difficult time, we would also like to convey our deepest condolences to the families of all the innocent victims of these despicable attacks and express our sympathy and support to the city of Paris.

“For over 170 years, B’nai B’rith International has condemned all senseless acts of violence. Today we recognize global terror as one of the world’s greatest challenges, and we have remained steadfast in our efforts to combat it.”

It is being reported that the paper has been the recipient of threats following the publication of a Muslim-related cartoon.

Read the full letter here.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is outraged the European Court of Justice ruled that the terrorist group Hamas must be removed from the European Union terror list. The court instructed Hamas to be removed on “procedural grounds,” saying in a statement that the European body did not place Hamas on the list after examining the organization’s leadership decisions and actions, but because of “factual imputations derived from the press and the internet.”

Even though this ruling has been declared a technical matter by the European External Action Service (EEAS), it will unacceptably open the door to the questioning of Hamas’ existence as a terrorist group. There should be no question that Hamas is an organization that’s mandate is terror and which has a repeatedly-stated commitment to the destruction of Israel. The court's conclusion that Hamas was placed on the terror list simply due to media reports is absurd.

B’nai B’rith urges all parties affected by this ruling to act quickly in relisting Hamas as a terrorist organization. The court continued a freeze on Hamas’ assets in Europe, as well as other restrictions placed on the terror group for a three-month span to allow for an appeal or other action by the EU. B’nai B’rith encourages the EEAS to proceed accordingly, and with urgency, in order to help move the European Court of Justice toward resolving this matter. If there is no expeditious effort to relist, it would be another blatant example of the hypocritical and deeply unconstructive manner in which Israel is often treated in the EU.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International condemns the latest anti-Israel terror attack, this time at the Israeli embassy in the Athens suburb of Psychiko where men on motorcycles opened fire with Kalashnikov automatic rifles on the front of the building early this morning. Fortunately, no one was injured.

B’nai B’rith commends Greek authorities for reacting swiftly, deploying police to the crime scene and vowing to bring the perpetrators of this terrorist attack to justice.

As we’ve seen in recent months and weeks, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise and they must be stopped. B’nai B’rith has repeatedly brought to light the troubling silence of the international community over these acts of terror, as well as  the need for European governmental and law enforcement officials to engage in proactive efforts to counter these attacks. 

Palestinian Leadership Must End Incitement

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following Statement:


B’nai B’rith is outraged by the latest terror attacks against Jews in Israel.

This time, gun and axe-toting terrorists murdered four Jews and seriously wounded at least six others praying at a synagogue in Jerusalem.

The issue of incitement is ever present as reports indicate public praise for the attackers and a celebratory atmosphere in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Palestinians.

To attack people as they pray is the height of depravity.

These synagogue murders continue a string of terror attacks against Jews in recent weeks.

On Nov. 10, an Israel Defense Forces soldier was stabbed multiple times in Tel Aviv while returning to his military base. He later died of his wounds. Hours before, a woman was fatally stabbed and two more were injured in Alon Shvut. The attack was allegedly carried out by Maher Hamdi A-Shalmon, who was jailed from 2000 to 2005 for throwing fire bombs at Israeli troops. And those attacks followed two car-based terror attacks at Jerusalem light-rail stations.

Jews in Israel are the targets of a growing terrorist uprising that must be stopped. As we have repeatedly stated, the silence of the international community over these acts of terror is deeply troubling. The United Nations and global leaders must strongly condemn these attacks and urge the Palestinian Authority to end incitement.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International is outraged by the continued terror attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, and condemns the deafening silence from the international community on these violent acts.

On Nov. 10 Israel Defense Forces soldier Almog Shilony was stabbed multiple times in Tel Aviv while returning to his military base. Shilony eventually died of his wounds.

Hours before, a woman was fatally stabbed and two more were injured in Alon Shvut. The attack was allegedly carried out by Maher Hamdi A-Shalmon, who was jailed from 2000 to 2005 for throwing fire bombs at Israeli troops.

These attacks come on the heels of two car-based terror attacks at Jerusalem light-rail stations.

Despite the rash of terror attacks, the international community—and the United Nations in particular—has said nothing.

“Every day Israelis are coming under attack. Every day the crowds of violent Palestinian rioters grow larger,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Ron Prosor told reporters at the United Nations on Nov. 10. “And yet, this institution has not uttered a word to denounce attacks against Israelis. Ignoring incitement and terrorism is similar to supporting terrorism.”

Prosor is absolutely correct in his assessment. The United Nations’ silence is a continuation of the double-standard with which it treats Israel. If attacks such as these occurred in any other country with the regularity that they have occurred in Israel, the United Nations and countries around the globe would issue condemnations and offer support. With the increased focus on terrorism by the international community—especially in the Middle East—the lack of any reaction from the world body or its member states is conspicuous and wrong.

B’nai B’rith International will continue to draw attention to terrorist attacks such as the ones seen yesterday. The constant threats faced by Israel and Israelis from terrorist organizations and their followers must not be ignored. 

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International condemns the attack on a light-rail station in northern Jerusalem by a Palestinian man with Hamas ties that killed an infant and wounded eight others.

Yesterday, Abd al-Rahman al-Shaloudy drove his car off the road, across the light-rail tracks and toward the station into a crowd, striking waiting passengers and killing a 3-month-old baby. Shaloudy then took off on foot and was fatally shot by police.

According to a police spokesperson, surveillance footage indicates Shaloudy intended to strike the crowd waiting for a train. In the aftermath it was also widely reported Shaloudy is linked to Hamas and has a history of anti-Israel violence.

At a time when more attention is being paid to acts of terrorism, we are deeply concerned over the lack of international outcry following this incident.

This is yet another example of the constant threat faced by Israel and Israelis from terrorist organizations and their followers. 

Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the Families and all of Israel

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

We are outraged and horrified by the murder of three Israeli teenagers missing since they were kidnapped in the West Bank June 12. The three teenagers, Naftali Fraenkel, 16, Gilad Shaar, 16, and Eyal Yifrach, 19, were abducted as they returned home from school.

The kidnapping and subsequent murders are the direct product of the constant and relentless incitement taught by the Palestinians.

For many decades, generations of Palestinians have been raised on a diet of hate, which feeds the terror targeting Israel. The twin evils of incitement and terrorism have once again shown that Israel does not have a credible partner for peace.

The Israeli government has placed the blame for the kidnappings—which occurred less than two weeks after the swearing in of the Fatah-Hamas-backed Palestinian government—directly on Hamas, which remains committed to the destruction of Israel and to carrying out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.  

It is the duty of the Palestinians to surrender the murderers to Israel.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the teens and with the people of Israel.