Israeli rights group sues North Korea over 1972 terror attack
Lawsuit alleges North Korea trained, funded terrorists that killed more than 20 at Ben-Gurion airport.
By Zohar Blumenkrantz Tags: North Korea Ben Gurion Airport Israel newsAn Israeli human rights organization is filing a lawsuit against North Korea over a 1972 terrorist attack at Ben-Gurion airport that left more than 20 people dead and more than 50 wounded, Haaretz has learned.
The attack, known as the Lod Airport massacre, was carried out by three members of the Japanese Red Army on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The victims included 16 Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico and Israeli professor and biophysicist Aharon Katzir.
While two of the terrorists were killed in the attack, one of them committing suicide, the third, Kozo Okamoto, was captured and sentenced to life in prison.
Okamoto was subsequently released from Israeli prison 13 years later, in 1985, as part of the Jibril prison exchange deal, one of the 1,150 security prisoners released in exchange for three Israeli prisoners captured during the First Lebanon War.
The lawsuit against North Korea stems from claims it sponsored the PFLP and the Japanese Red Army, providing material support to both organizations and assistance in planning the attack.
The three terrorists arrived on an Air France flight from Paris and drew automatic guns and hand grenades, firing fired randomly at anybody in sight, after their luggage came through baggage claims.
"This attack was for Israelis what the September 11th attacks were for Americans," Ze'ev Sarig, the former manager of Lod Airport, explained in his testimony before a judge in Puerto Rico. "The attack changed how we viewed security at the airport and in Israeli civil aviation."
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, the founder of Israeli rights group Shurat HaDin, filed the $30 million lawsuit at a U.S. federal court in Puerto Rico on behalf of 12 of the victims' families.
Preliminary hearings to examine evidence began in Puerto Rico on December 2, 2009. Israeli experts - including Sarig and various experts on terrorism - were flown in to testify at the hearings.
The claims were then translated and transferred to North Korean authorities, which, according to Darshan-Leitner, have yet to respond to the charges.
"We are currently waiting for the ruling of the federal judge in Puerto Rico," she said, adding that it might be possible to seize North Korean funds held at U.S. banks if the verdict is in the claimants' favor.
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North Korea needs to be spoken to as well. We need to feed those people and create peace. In North Korea there is a rock not coal used for heat resource. Little pollution. WE need to start thinking of other resources. WE need to find a way to create resources. Can we empty junk yards and melt down steel again to recreate new auto industry. It would be stronger alloy. Rankoo-Karoon
It's true the North Korean people are suffering. But the N.Korean goverment does not intend on using even one cent of the millions of dollars it has stashed in overseas banks to help it's own people... only to prop up it's own corrupt regime (just like the very wealthy terrorist goverments in charge of ramallah and gaza)
Why not sue: 1-Air france, that carried the terrorists.France also while you're at it 2-Japan, where the terrorist are born(American families tried to sue Saudi Arabia after september 11) 3-Israel, for maikng peace with the palestinian organisations thus offering them shelter in the west bank.( may be the IAF can bomb the prime minister office for offering safe heaven to the terrorists) 5- Nepal: why not?
The suit is being brought by Porto Rico Christians in a Porto Rico court. The damages if any will be paid to them. The only Israeli involvement is providing expert witnesses, and other witnesses who were in the airport on the day of the massacre. All the Israeli support is pro bono. as for collecting the damages there may be some frozen assets of North Korea in US institutions.
It is rare for any entity to show up to defend itself in one of these proceedings. North Korea responding would be a surprise. Most countries adhere to the concept of sovereign immunity pretty closely. Finding NK Funds in US Banks would be a surprise, too. The US has been at war with NK since its creation.
Should make an interesting case. It is doubtful any damages awarded can be extracted. We'll see. The following day all European airport security changed, and in particular, French airport security. All bags were hand searched and all passengers were pat-down searched, intimately - All under the watchful eyes of the CRS in their Dress Blues (white gloves) and with their dress white-stocked (patent leather) Thompson Sub-machine-guns. Eventually they moved to metal scanners and hid the guys in dress blues.
A Total waist of time and energy. I wonder if those people realise wich planet they are living at. Do they ever read newspapersand watch news??
The same North Korean dictatorship that sent these terrorists to murder Israelis also starves the people of North Korea. Now you want them to pay for more fake lawsuits against Jewish self-defence. What will they think of next?
Or sue your mother for creating an Amoeba. The Plural of "Goy" is "Goyim". It means Nations. I have never refered to non Jews as Goyim anyway,but I bet you as sure as Hell you know all the names for Jews.
israel is right to sue north korea over their terror attacvk. in the same way palestine is right to sue israel over the last war. the goldstone report is very good basis for it.
about their anti-Israel activities and the forces of evil with which they have been collaborating?
Hey Musa: For what should Gazans get money? To buy more chemicals and metal to replace the thousands of rockets that are launched from Gaza into Israel. Do you really believe what you write? Do you really think that Israel went into Gaza in December 2008 simply to attack civilians?
N Korea will deny any involvement. Most of their assests are in china free from us sanctions. It's wishful thinking if they believe something will be achieved from a lawsuit!
North Korea recently had a planeload of weapons bound for Iran confiscated in Thailand. Iran surely would have moved them to Hamas or Hezbollah. 30 million can be used for projects to improve the lives of many people.
Actually there is a point. One, it would serve to eliminate the movements on the part of the socialist triumverate in Washington led by BHO, Clinton and the Kapo Emmanuel, to appease dictatorships. Secondly, the N Koreans do have assets in ths US that can be attached. The Christian community of Puerto Rico was devastated by the wanton slaughter. The funds could be used to build a proper memorial for those murdered and perhaps a new church in their memory
As I continue my transformation to a human being, permit me to note to the Antisemite Sam that the suit is on behalf of CHRISTIANS not Jews. It was Christians that were murdered by the God hating North Koreans, not Jews. You should repepnt for your sins as I am now for mine
This is not at all a pointless effort. First and foremost to legally recognize North Korean guilt, and secondly to delegitimize the "DPRK" regime. In their efforts to gain legitimacy, make it another obstacle the must resolve before moving ahead to achieve their diplomatic goals.
Yeah, I'm sure Kim Jong-il will appear in court or settle out of court! Nothing will happen!
maybe you should sue the Almighty over making goyems. or sue the clouds for dropping rain. or sue the sun for making it hot outside. or sue an onion for giving you bad breath.
If they can get money so should gazans