Palestinian Authority ordered to compensate tortured, imprisoned Israeli collaborators
Rulings detail horrific instances of torture suffered by the plaintiffs, including severe physical injuries, prolonged sleep deprivation, psychological abuse
Last week, Jerusalem District Court Judge Miriam Ilani ruled on a series of lawsuits filed by individuals who were imprisoned and tortured by the Palestinian Authority (PA) after they were arrested on suspicion of cooperating with Israel.
The plaintiffs were awarded a total of NIS 8 million ($2.32 million) in compensation.
Based on court reports, the rulings describe severe cases of torture endured by the plaintiffs, including “serious physical injuries, sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse.”
As reported by The Jerusalem Post on Sunday, Judge Ilani said, “The Palestinian Authority is responsible for the unlawful imprisonment and torture of the cooperators… This constitutes a blatant violation of basic human rights."
Attorneys Barak Kedem and Aryeh Arbus, from the law firm Arbus, Kedem, Tzur, represented the plaintiffs and expressed delight in the outcome for their clients. They noted, “The rulings reflect true justice for those who assisted in the fight against terrorism.”
In a similar case in 2018, 51 plaintiffs were awarded NIS 13.2 million (approximately $3.5 million) for being systematically tortured in prisons under the PA's control. The court issued a 1,800-page summary after 90 court sessions and years of deliberations, with presiding judge Moshe Drori delivering the ruling.
Drori stated that "the testimonies and evidence proved the allegations beyond any reasonable doubt."
While there has been a clear victory in the ruling of last week’s case by Judge Ilani, the law firm is still waiting to hear if the Supreme Court will accept the firm's position on including additional compensation for their clients, which will provide them with financial and psychological resources and support to rebuild their lives.
According to attorneys, "These rulings are not just about compensation but also about holding accountable an evil authority that perpetuates terrorism.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
