Nitzan Darshan-Leitner, an Israeli attorney, has done what none of her colleagues dared to take on – taking terrorists to court. She singlehandedly has taken on terrorism, compelling them to enter an unfamiliar battleground, the judicial system of the United States and European nations.

In her latest offensive, the founder of ‘Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center’ has filed a lawsuit against the Bank of China in a New York court in connection to the 2008 terror attack in Jerusalem’s Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva located in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Eight talmidim were murdered in that attack HY”D and Darshan-Leitner seeks justice.

On March 6, 2008 an Arab terrorist entered the yeshiva building and murdered eight talmidim. Murdered in the attack were Neria Cohen (15) of Yerushalayim; Segev Peniel Avichayil (15) of N’vei Daniel in Gush Etzion; Yonatan Yitzchak Eldar (16) of Shilo in Shomron; Yehonadav Chaim Hirschfeld (18) of Kochav HaShachar in Shomron; Yonai Lifshitz (17) of Yerushalayim; Doron Meherete (26) of Ashdod; Avraham David Moses (16) of Efrat in Gush Etzion; and Ro’i Roth (18) of Elon Moreh in Shomron HY”D.

The families of these kedoshim filed a billion dollar lawsuit this week claiming the funds were provided to Hamas by the bank, making the bank an accomplice in the attack. A press release stated the lawsuit “is on behalf of five families who lost loved ones in the shooting attack. The suit, Rot v. Bank of China, seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the victims.”

The suit documents that back in 2003, dozens of money transfers by the National Chinese Bank totaling millions of dollars infused funds into Hamas’ coffers, financing its terrorist activities. The funds originated in Syria and Iran, processed by the bank and then sent to the terrorist operative in China, eventually finding their way to terrorists based in PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas throughout Judea and Samaria, as well as Hamas-controlled Gaza. Israeli counterterrorism officials followed the money trail and in April 2005, meetings took place with bank officials during which Israel requested halting the money transfers which funded the terrorism but bank officials would not hear of it.

Darshan-Leitner feels there is a good chance the bank will settle since she feels a trial will expose the bank’s complicity in the funding of terrorism. She explains a trial will prove that bank was quite aware of the source of the money as well as the intended recipient, Hamas terrorists. She adds the bank could lose its license if there is a conviction since a bank linked to funding terrorism would no longer be permitted to operate.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)