'Collective punishment': US Supreme Court greenlights $656m judgement against Palestinian officials

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a $656 million judgment against Palestinian officials, allowing the funds to be collected. This decision comes after 22 years of litigation and overturns previous rulings that deemed the case inapplicable due to the attacks not being directed at American citizens. The case was brought on by US victims who were attacked during the Second Intifada, which occurred between 2002 and 2004.

The decision to uphold the judgment was made by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who oversees emergency case reviews.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) have expressed concern that the $656 million payout could destabilize their governing abilities in the occupied West Bank. The PA has been forced to accept US jurisdiction against its will, a move that advocates for democracy in the Arab world describe as unprecedented. The judgment will impact ordinary Palestinians who are already facing reduced salaries due to the PA's financial issues.