Two of Israel’s major banks are facing charges in federal court that they provided money to Hamas.
Bank Hapoalim and Israel Discount Bank are accused of violating American anti-terrorism finance laws by conducting transactions that benefited the terrorist organization, the Forward reported.
The Arab Bank of Jordan filed the charges in U.S. District Court in New York against the two Israeli banks, apparently because it was accused of similar charges dating back to 2004, when the families of terror victims filed charges that the Arab Bank gave money to the families of the Palestinian terrorists.
Israeli Discount Bank in September transferred nearly $750,000 to Hamas’ armed Executive Force through the Palestine Islamic Bank as part of the “Paris Accords,” in which Israel Discount Bank, as well as Bank Hapoalim, was given exclusive rights to provide banking services to the Palestinians. The transfer was to pay Palestinian Authority salaries.
The Arab Bank asked Judge Nina Gershon to make the Israeli banks liable if it has to pay damages, since the allegations are similar.
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