Lebanese Banks Accused of Aiding Hezbollah

A group of Israeli citizens is suing five Lebanese banks for allegedly handling wire transfers on behalf of Hezbollah.

The suit, filed recently in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, accuses the banks of providing Hezbollah's fund-raising wing, the Islamic Resistance Support Organization, with money that allowed the group to commit terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens.

The suit says the Lebanese banks kept accounts with New York banks that it used to get access to American currency to conduct the transfers.

The banks sued are Fransabank Sal, Middle East and Africa Bank, Banque Libano-Francaise Sal, Bank of Beruit Sal, and the Banque Libanaise pour le Commerce.

Until now, the American courts haven't heard a civil lawsuit targeting banks for handling Hezbollah's accounts.

The lawyer for the plaintiffs, Gary Osen, said it is "impossible to say with any accuracy" exactly how much money the banks allegedly handled for Hezbollah. The banks are accused of moving funds that Hezbollah solicited through television and Internet advertisements, the complaint states.

"Defendants' conduct was clear: providing Hizbullah with regular, systemic, and unfettered access to U.S. currency, thus enabling Hizbullah to rapidly access funds to purchase missiles and other weapons that could terrorize civilians, support Hizbullah operatives and facilitate Hizbullah's efforts to exterminate both the Israeli nation-state, and specifically target Israel's Jewish citizens, residents, and visitors," the complaint claims.

The plaintiffs include family members of more than a dozen Israelis who were murdered by Hezbollah rocket attacks in 2006.