Key facts
- Palestinian authorities have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a $656 million judgment.
- The judgment is related to a lawsuit filed by victims of attacks in Israel in the early 2000s.
- A lower court reinstated the damages after a Supreme Court decision revived the lawsuits.
- Palestinian authorities claim payment would destabilize government services and regional security.
- The appeal is filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Palestinian authorities have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a $656 million judgment that was reinstated by a lower court. The judgment is tied to a long-running lawsuit filed by Americans who were killed or wounded in attacks in Israel during the early 2000s. The Palestinian entities argue that paying the substantial sum now would destabilize critical government services in the West Bank, harm innocent citizens, and jeopardize regional security. They are seeking a pause in payment while they appeal the reinstatement of the verdict. The lawsuit was brought under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows U.S. courts to hear cases involving international terror attacks. The legal battle has spanned over two decades, with the Supreme Court having previously sided with the families to revive the lawsuits in 2025, leading to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstating the verdict in March.