American Victims of Palestinian Terror Seek Extradition & Justice
- Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:15pm by
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This article was written by GBTV contributor and CBN News Terrorism Analyst Erick Stakelbeck. It was originally published on CBN.com.
Israeli solider Gilad Shalit
Over the years, Palestinian terror groups have slaughtered countless Israeli civilians. In the process, they’ve also killed and injured dozens of American citizens. Now there is a movement to have those Palestinians face justice here in the United States. But the hardest part may be getting the U.S. government to take action.
When Israeli solider Gilad Shalit was released, after years of captivity, by his Hamas kidnappers last fall, many Israelis cheered. Yet Israel paid a heavy price in the deal: More than 1,000 hardened Palestinian terrorists were exchanged for Shalit, including some who were involved in the murder of Americans.
“We know of at least 15 terrorists who were released who were involved in attacks with American casualties,” American terror victim Alan Bauer told CBN News.
Bauer and his young son were among those injured. In 2002, they were seriously wounded by a Palestinian suicide bomber in Jerusalem. Bauer said two of the attack’s planners were released as part of the Shalit deal — as were others who’ve been involved in attacking Americans.
“These were people who were instrumental in the planning, executing, and arranging of attacks in which people were killed and injured,” Bauer said.
At least 54 U.S. citizens have been killed in Palestinian terror attacks since 1993. Another 83 have been wounded, some seriously. The attacks have targeted American tourists, students, and expatriates living in Israel or areas under Palestinian control.
Ahlam Tamimi helped mastermind the deadly 2001 bombing of the Sbarro Pizzeria in Jerusalem, which killed 15 people. Among those murdered was New Jersey schoolteacher Shosana Greenbaum. Tamimi, who was released in the Shalit deal, now lives in Jordan and is unrepentant about her actions.
“We have an extradition treaty with Jordan. If America wanted to get this woman and shackle her and have her stand justice and actually be punished for her heinous crimes, we could,” said Sarah Stern, president of the Endowment for Middle East Truth in Washington, D.C. Stern said the U.S. government is not following through on cases involving Palestinian terrorists.
“There’s a 1990 anti-terrorism law that says that any time an American is killed anywhere in the world, we have the right to retrieve that suspect and have them stand justice,” Stern said.
When it became clear that wasn’t happening, Stern helped push through legislation on Capitol Hill that would bring justice to American families affected by Palestinian terrorism. That move led to the Department of Justice opening an office devoted to American victims of overseas terrorism.
Yet in the seven years since that office opened, not one Palestinian involved in terror against Americans has been extradited or even indicted to face justice in the United States — despite plenty of leverage in the form of hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority each year. The U.S. has extradited a Somali pirate, al Qaeda members, and several Israeli citizens who were involved in drug trafficking and Internet fraud, but no Palestinian terrorists.
Attorney General Eric Holder (AP)
“The DOJ is comitted to the principle that those who engage in or materially support terrorist acts against U.S. citizens must be brought to justice, whether in the United States or elsewhere,” a Justice Department official told CBN News.
But Bauer said the American reluctance to pursue Palestinians is not limited to those involved in the Shalit exchange and has been going on for years, under both Presidents Bush and Obama.
“The U.S. government has decided that extraditing Palestinian terrorists would hurt its reputation with the Palestinian people, and with the Arab street. And as such, it has made no real effort,” Bauer said.
He hopes that will change. Along with other victims of Palestinian terror, Bauer recently sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to bring their attackers to justice.
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rdietz7
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 9:51pmThis is America. This is not the Roman Empire! No, we don’t prosecute outside of our jurisdiction.
Report Post »LadyVet
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 9:38amFirst off, there is no such thing as a “Palestinian” it is a made up group. I really do not understand the reluctance of the left and the RINO’s to be forthcoming on the threat that these groups pose to the world not just America. Through out history Islam has been responsible for many wars and millions of innocent deaths. Islam was responsible for the establishment of the first standing military branch of the U. S. when we established the Navy to stop Muslims from attacking our merchant ships to kidnap and kill the sailors. Ancient Europe was plagued by the Muslims who were constantly attacking and destroying other civilizations. Why do they do this? Because it’s in their beloved Koran. They are instructed to seek out the “infidels” and either convert them, tax them or kill them.
How can the world make peace with Islam? The short answer is it cannot. Islam must be wiped out because there will always be those who take the command to wipe out non-believers to heart and attempt to do that by violent means. Islam is not compatible with a civilized, peaceful world. CAIR is nothing more than the political arm of the Muslim terror1st movement and poses a very real threat to America.
Report Post »RDSKIN
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 6:43amShould be front page news. O I forgot. Yassar’s Nobel peace prize (1994) along with peanut farmer and Barry. Silly me.
Report Post »waspanglosaxon
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:52amThis sort of thing is why I always revered Palestinian Authority leader Yasir Arafat, who condemned terrorist attacks upon civilians anywhere outside of Israel.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:34amCondemned them publicly after having privately ordered them. Pick your heroes better.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:53pmAnd they wonder why we have absolutely no confidence in this dictatorial Obama regime where they side with the Taliban against American families as well.
This DOJ and his protector Obama traitor should be tried for treason.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:13pmGood Luck with that.
Sorry Obama said that, “When the political winds turn ugly I will always side with the Muslims.”
Report Post »They are Muslims you are not, but theres no bigotry in it.
Obama doesn’t hate you he just will ALWAYS side with the Muslims.
RightPolitically
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:06pmIt’s an outrage.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:00pmDo you really think OBAMA has a Dept of Justice?
Report Post »Com’on people!
OBAMA is a criminal himself!
Why would you think he cares about “Justice”?
philipzhao
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:50pmBut Obama does have a Department of Injustice along with a Department of Homeland Insecurity.
Report Post »So what can you expect from a Muslim in the White Mosque ??!!
eramthgin
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 6:10pmI agree give up! This government doesn’t give a damn about the citizens. The only concern is playing with their outrageous idea of how goverenment should take care of us stupid citizens. A government that cared for us would dispatch teams to extract justice in these cases.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:55pmERAMTHGIN, Well said. I wonn’t hold my breath waiting for him to do ANTthing about.
Report Post »Delores at CH WV
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 5:25pmGive it up! The only Justice that you will receive is from your God! Man made Justice is flawed with corruption and cronism. The best example of man made Justice is Eric Holder running amuck and deciding that the bad guys are the Heroes while the real Heroes are left dead in the streets.
Seek the highest Judge in the Universe, he will make sure that Justice will be done!.
Report Post »natstew
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 5:14pmOur own Government is supporting our enemies. The Palestinians get millions of dollars from us each year.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 4:41amIt’s more than millions, it’s hundreds of millions. Usually close to half a billion in recent years. We’re not just contributing, we’re pretty much funding the entire operation ourselves.
Report Post »Fitz of DE
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 5:07pmWhat else from Muslim COWARDS
Report Post »BO_Bill
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 4:51pmI get kind of tired of Jewish people who hold dual citizenship and reside in Israel running back to American lawyers and/or the American armed forces for protection every time somebody bloodies their nose. We have given these people all kinds of weapons and all kinds of money.
We have given them their own country.
They can protect themselves.
Report Post »absolutelynot
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 5:52pm@Bo Bill The majority of money spent overseas these days is put into palestinian hands. How do you propose that Israel can defend themselves when Things like you cry and moan if they even try. 40 Israelis could die and one Phiistine could die and people like you would pile on Israel withsome foolish argument that they Israel deserved it because the poor Philistines just want the land that Israel took from them. you need help
Report Post »Firefighter 538
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:15pm@BO_BILL I would explain it to you but I’m all out of puppets and crayons!
Report Post »IMovedOn
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:17pm@BO_BILL: Get real – open your eyes and read the newspaper. Everytime Israel tries to use it’s “muscles” the USA is out there yelling “restrain yourself”. Yes, Israel would do well to ignore the idiots in the West and do what needs to be done…but people like yourself are not helping matters.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 4:34pmDon’t expect Barry and Holder to do anything about it – they are to busy trying to figure out ways to keep from going to jail themselves.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
chips1
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 4:14pmThe people that are doing the loudest complaining are hyphen Americans. The muslim palestinians that are doing the killing are only doing what they are taught to do and that’s their problem. If they elect to go back to their home, it’s not my problem. We have our own muslim terrorists here at home.
Report Post »living1nBF3
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 4:04pm“That move led to the Department of Justice opening an office devoted to American victims of overseas terrorism.”
Another pork project.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:39pmIf NoBama can create a “civilian” army without the approval of congress, as he is proposing, that will be bigger than the military army (scary, huh?), can civilians create a “civilian army?
NoBama 2012
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:25pmHow are you going to get justice from a suicide bomber? You going to sue him for his virgins?
Report Post »Laus Deo
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:18pmIt’s a matter of time before Americans will carry out justice on their own… Man can only be pushed so far, for so long.
Report Post »Obama Bin Lying
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:18pmHolder will never go after foriegn terror. He is too busy killing, and suing American citizens to go chase Muslim terrorists
Report Post »ChildOfTheKing
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 3:39pmNo, no, no, no, you got it all wrong, HOLDER IS A TERRORIST, OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 4:04pmPart of their War on Capitalism – going after banks and corporations .
Report Post »