The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a long-standing legal battle, effectively refusing to block a $656 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, acting on behalf of the court, denied the request from Palestinian groups to stay the massive financial penalty. The judgment stems from civil lawsuits filed by American families affected by attacks during the Second Intifada in Israel.

The plaintiffs successfully argued that the PA and PLO should be held liable for damages related to the series of terror attacks that took place between 2002 and 2004, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of several U.S. citizens.

Legal representatives for the Palestinian entities had sought to pause the enforcement of the judgment while they continue to pursue appeals regarding jurisdictional and liability issues. By denying the stay, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for the plaintiffs to continue their efforts to collect the awarded damages.

This decision marks a significant development in a case that has wound through the American court system for years, highlighting the ongoing legal and diplomatic complexities surrounding accountability for terror attacks occurring abroad. Neither the PA nor the PLO have issued an immediate statement regarding the Supreme Court's latest move.

Source: The Times of Israel