Supreme Court Justice Lets $656 Million Terror Judgment Against PLO Proceed
Justice Sonia Sotomayor declined on Monday, August 3, 2026, to stay a $656 million judgment against the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, leaving the award enforceable while appeals continue.[1]
The suit was brought by victims and the families of attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds.[1] Plaintiffs pursued the case under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated the verdict in March 2026 after earlier tossing it.[1]
The PLO and Palestinian Authority had asked the Supreme Court to pause enforcement, saying immediate payment could force cuts to West Bank government services and destabilize local governance while appeals proceed.[1] Sotomayor's decision leaves enforcement available for creditors while the legal fight moves through the appeals process.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, August 3, 2026, Justice Sonia Sotomayor declined to stay a $656 million judgment against the PLO and Palestinian Authority.
- The lawsuit was filed by victims and families of attacks in Jerusalem in the early 2000s that killed 33 people and wounded hundreds.
- The case was brought under the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act; the 2nd Circuit reinstated the verdict in March 2026 after earlier tossing it.
- The PLO and Palestinian Authority argued paying now could destabilize West Bank government services while their appeal continues.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time