Bank of China Sued in Los Angeles Court for Aiding Terror Attacks in Israel

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Bank of China Sued in Los Angeles Court for Aiding Terror Attacks in Israel

Suit by victims of rocket attacks and suicide bombings in the Jewish statedetails how Bank of China transferred millions of dollars to Hamas andIslamic Jihad terrorist groups, and rebuffed demand by Israelicounterterrorism officials to halt payments  Over 100 victims of terrorist attacks carried out by the Hamas and PalestineIslamic Jihad ("PIJ") terror organizations in Israel between 2004 and 2007have filed an historic civil action in Los Angeles Superior Court againstChina's largest bank, the Bank of China Ltd. ("BOC"). The suit, Zahavi v.Bank of China, seeks both compensatory and punitive damages.  The plaintiffs allege in their civil complaint that starting in 2003, BOCexecuted dozens of wire transfers for the Hamas and PIJ totaling severalmillion dollars. These dollar transfers were initiated by the PIJ and Hamasleadership in Iran and Syria, were processed through BOC's branches in theUnited States and were sent on to a BOC account in China operated by asenior operative of the Hamas and PIJ. From there, the funds weretransferred to Hamas and PIJ leaders in the Gaza Strip and West Bank andused to carry out terrorist attacks.  In April 2005, Israeli counterterrorism officers met with officials from theChinese Ministry of Public Security and China's Central Bank regarding theseHamas and PIJ wire transfers. The Israelis demanded that the Chineseofficials take action to prevent BOC from making any further such transfers.Despite the Israeli warnings, the BOC - with the Chinese government'sapproval - continued to wire terrorist funds for the Hamas and PIJ.  The plaintiffs, who are represented by attorneys Federico C. Sayre of LosAngeles, Robert J. Tolchin of New York and Nitsana Darshan-Leitner ofIsrael, include the family of Afik Zahavi, a four year-old boy who wasmurdered on June 28, 2004 in a Hamas missile attack in the town of Sderot.The toddler was on his way to nursery school when he was killed.

For moredetails see
www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2004/Afik+Zahavi.htm<http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2004/Afik+Zahavi.htm><http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2004/Afik+Zahavi.htm> 

Other plaintiffs include the families of Emi Elmaliah, and Michael Saadon,who were murdered on January 27, 2007 in a suicide bombing in a bakery inEilat. The attack was carried out by a PIJ bomber from Gaza. See: www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Suicide+bombing+in+Eilat+bakery+29-Jan-2007.htm<http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Suicide+bombing+in+Eilat+bakery+29-Jan-2007.htm><http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Suicide+bombing+in+Eilat+bakery+29-Jan-2007.htm> 

Attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner stated that: "BOC knowingly assisted Hamasand the Islamic Jihad to carry out terrorist attacks with the full approvalof the Chinese government, and rejected requests by the Israeli governmentto cease and desist. BOC even had the chutzpah to make these funds transfersthrough its U.S. branches right under the nose of the Justice Department,despite the fact that Hamas and the PIJ are designated terroristorganizations and that such wire transfers are a crime under American law.We expect BOC to now pay very heavily for its support for terrorism."   

A copy of the complaint is available here:   http://www.snapdrive.net/qs/65ea3b0a532f

For more information please contact: Nitsana Darshan-Leitner    (US) 212-591-0073 Email: [email protected]