American Jewish Committee Welcomes U.S. District Court Judgment Against Iran In 1995 Suicide Bombing In Gaza

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 12 March 1998

Robert S. Rifkind, President of the American Jewish Committee, today issued the following statement:

"The American Jewish Committee hails the judgment by the U.S. District Court ordering Iran to pay nearly $247.5 million to the family of Alisa Flatow, the New Jersey student who was murdered in the 1995 suicide bombing in Gaza. The attack, which killed Alisa and seven Israelis, was carried out by Islamic Jihad, a group financed by the Iranian government.

"This judgment confirms Iran's legal responsibility for deadly attacks on American citizens. It also confirms that the courts and the legal system have an important role to play in the struggle against state-sponsored terrorism.

"This is not the first time the government in Tehran has been directly implicated in international terrorism. Just last year, a court in Berlin declared that the highest levels of government of the Islamic Republic were involved in planning the bombing at the Mykonos Restaurant, which killed Iranian exiles.

"The District Court's decision yesterday should lead us to proceed with great caution in dealing with a nation that has financed the murder of an American woman and others as well. Although it has been suggested that Iran may be moderating its extremist position, it will be interesting to observe whether the government now steps forward and pays the judgment that has been entered against it or chooses to remain an outlaw among nations."

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