Civil Rights Group Threatens to Sue PLO’s Washington, D.C. Landlord and
Verizon on Behalf of Victims of Terrorism
23 January 2012

(New York) Civil rights group Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center has warned the
landlord of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (“PLO”) office in
Washington, D.C. and the Verizon telephone company that providing premises,
phone lines and other associated services to the PLO is illegal and will
expose the landlord and Verizon to both criminal prosecution and civil
liability to American citizens and others victimized by PLO-sponsored
terrorism. In letters sent to Endeka Enterprises LLC, the owner of the
premises that house the PLO’s offices and Verizon which provides them
telephone service, the Law Center demanded written confirmation that Endeka
and Verizon permanently discontinue providing services to the PLO.

For copies of the letters click here:
http://israellawcenter.org/uploadimages/image/Letter%20to%20Verizon.pdf
http://israellawcenter.org/uploadimages/image/Letter%20to%20LLC.pdf

Shurat HaDin—Israel Law Center (http://israellawcenter.org/) is an
international human rights law organization dedicated to enforcing basic
human rights through the legal system and to representing victims of
terrorism in courtrooms around the world. The letter was sent by Shurat
HaDin director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner and American counsel Robert J.
Tolchin.

According to Shurat HaDin, the PLO is an umbrella group that acts for the
benefit of its constituent factions. One of the PLO’s key members is the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (“PFLP”) organization. The
PFLP constitutes the second largest faction in the PLO and shares the PLO's
budget. Additionally, last month the PLO reached a strategic partnership
agreement with Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad (“PIJ”) under which the
PLO, Hamas and PIJ coordinate activities.

The PFLP is officially designated under United States law as a “Foreign
Terrorist Organization,” as a “Specially Designated Terrorist,” and as a
“Specially Designated Global Terrorist.” Both Hamas and PIJ are officially
designated under U.S. law as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

As the letter states, “The PLO’s funding is shared and distributed among its
constituent members, including the PFLP. The PLO’s activities are carried
out specifically for the benefit of its constituent members, including the
PFLP. Similarly, pursuant to their recent leadership merger agreement,
Hamas and PIJ will also be recipients of these services and benefits."

According to Shurat HaDin, the law is strict when it comes to aiding and
abetting terrorism, citing the United States Supreme Court’s recent ruling
in the case of Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, ––– U.S. ––––, 130 S.Ct.
2705 (2010), which found that providing any assistance or support to
terrorists, including putatively benign forms of assistance (such as
providing rental space or telephone services) is criminal.

As such, the provision of premises and telephone services to the PLO, which
ultimately inures to the benefit and interests of the PLFP, Hamas and PIJ,
all designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, would constitute the type of
seemingly innocuous material support that would render companies criminally
and civilly liable. This includes liability for terrorist attacks carried
out by the PLO, PFLP, Hamas or PIJ.

Shurat HaDin director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, "The Popular Front for
the Liberation of Palestine, which is a designated terrorist organization
that American citizens and companies are prohibited to provide services to,
is an integral part of the PLO and shares the PLO’s budget. Thus, by
providing services to the PLO, companies like Enedka and Verizon are in fact
providing services to and benefitting the PFLP, and thereby violating
federal antiterrorism laws and aiding and abetting Palestinian terrorism.”

For more information: nitsanad@zahav.net.il
(New York) Tel: 718-855-3627
(Israel) Tel: +972 523837020