Timeline

Dec 9

First Intifada begins

Dec 10

Hamas established at the home of Ahmed Yassin

1989

Jun 22

Israel designates Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as Terrorist Organizations

Sep 15

Israel designates Hamas an Unlawful Organization

1990

Oct 29

Israel designates Palestinian Islamic Jihad an Unlawful Organization

1992

Dec 17

Israel deports 415 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members to Marj al Zahur, Lebanon

1994

Jan 6

Hamas bomb maker Yihya Ayash killed by Israel

Nov 18

Arab Bank obtains license to operate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

1995

Jan 23

United States designates Hamas and Hamas founder and spiritual leader Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as Specially Designated Terrorists

Jun 30

Palestinian Authority Police raid Islamic Society Gaza’s (al-Jam’iya al-Islamiya) offices in Gaza as part of its crackdown on Hamas

Aug 29

United States designates senior Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzook a Specially Designated Terrorist

1997

May 6

Israel designates Comité de Bienfaisance et de Solidarité avec la Palestine (CBSP) (renamed Comité de Bienfaisance et de Secours aux Palestiniens in 2001), Palestinian Relief and Development Fund (Interpal), the Al Aqsa Foundation and the Holy Land Foundation Unlawful Organizations because of their affiliation with Hamas

Aug 6

Deutsche Presse—Agentur reports on Israeli government news conference regarding efforts to “crush” the Hamas infrastructure by stopping the flow of funds from Hamas-linked organizations such as Interpal (London), the Al Aqsa Foundation (Germany), CBSP (France) and the Holy Land Foundation (Texas)

Aug 7

The Associated Press reports on Israeli charges that Hamas had set up offices in London (Interpal), Paris (CBSP) and Aachen, Germany (the Al-Aqsa Foundation)

Oct 8

United States designates Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Foreign Terrorist Organizations

1998

Jan 27

Israel designates CBSP, Interpal, the Al Aqsa Foundation and the Holy Land Foundation Terrorist Organizations because of their affiliation with Hamas

2000

Jul 20

Al-Dustur reports on interview with Arab Bank’s Chairman, Abdul Majid Shoman, who is quoted as saying that the Jews have no right to the land of Palestine

Sep 28

Second Intifada begins

Oct 16

Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds (Saudi Committee) is established

Oct 22

Abdul Majid Shoman chairs meeting at Arab Bank headquarters in which it is decided that financial assistance to the families of ‘martyrs’ and those injured in the Intifada should continue

Dec 15

Ain-Al-Yaqeen reports that Saudi Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister and Supervisor General of the Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds, issued directives to pay the families of ‘martyrs’ and those injured in the Intifada

2001

Feb 27

Al Hayat Al Jadida publishes Saudi Committee in Support of the Intifada Al Quds advertisement listing the first round of wounded Palestinians entitled to allocations and directing them to specific Arab Bank branches to receive their payments

Mar 28

Hamas Suicide Bombing at gas station in Neve Yamin, near Kfar Saba, Israel kills 2 and injures 4

May 15

Al Hayat Al Jadida publishes Al-Ansar Charitable Society advertisement calling upon the families of “martyrs” to visit its offices to receive their allocations from Hezbollah’s Martyrs Foundation

Jun 1

Hamas Suicide Bombing at the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv kills 21 and injures 83

Jul 31

Senior Hamas leaders Jamal Mansur and Jamal Salim killed by Israel

Aug 9

Hamas Suicide Bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem kills 15 and injures more than 90

Sep 25

United States designates Hamas a Specially Designated Global Terrorist

Oct 17

Israeli Minister of Tourism and Member of Knesset Rechavam Ze’evi is assassinated by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

Oct 22

Senior Hamas operative Ayman Halawa killed by Israel

Nov 4

Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative fires on a Jerusalem bus killing 2 and injuring 45

Dec 1

Hamas Suicide Bombings on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem kill 11 and injure 188

Dec 4

United States designates Holy Land Foundation a Specially Designated Global Terrorist

Dec 12

Hamas Bombing and attack on Bus No. 189 at Emmanuel kills 10 and injures more than 20

Dec 27

European Union designates Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades

2002

Jan 27

Suicide Bombing perpetrated by Wafa’ Idris (Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades) in Jerusalem kills 1 and injures more than 100

Feb 16

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Suicide Bombing at a Karnei Shomron pizzeria kills 3 and injures approximately 30

Feb 18

Al Hayat Al Jadida publishes advertisement calling upon the families of the specified fatalities to come to Arab Bank branches to receive payments from the Saudi Committee

Feb 25

Israel designates Islamic Center of Gaza (al-Mujama al-Islami), Islamic Society Gaza (al-Jam’iya al-Islamiya), al Salah Society, Islamic Charitable Society – Hebron, Tulkarem Zakat Committee, Islamic Solidarity (Al-Tadhamun) Charitable Society – Nablus, Ramallah–Al-Bireh Zakat Committee, Jenin Zakat Committee, and the Al-Islah Charitable Society - Ramallah & Al-Bireh Unlawful Organizations because of their affiliation with Hamas

Mar 7

Hamas Shooting Attack at Atzmona kills 5 and injures 23

Mar 9

Hamas Suicide Bombing at Café Moment in Jerusalem kills 11 and injures 54

Mar 27

Hamas Suicide Bombing at the Park Hotel in Netanya kills 30 and injures 140

Mar 29

Operation Defensive Shield begins

May 7

Hamas Suicide Bombing at the Sheffield Club in Rishon Letzion kills 15 and injures 55

Jun 18

Hamas Suicide Bombing on Bus No. 32-A, Patt Junction in Jerusalem kills 19 and injures 74

Jul 1

Senior Hamas operative Muhanad al-Taher killed by Israel

Jul 22

Senior Hamas leader and co-founder and founder of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Salah Shahadeh killed by Israel

Jul 31

Hamas Bombing of the Frank Sinatra Cafeteria at Hebrew University in Jerusalem kills 9 and injures 70

Sep 19

Hamas Suicide Bombing on the Bus No. 4, Allenby Street kills 6 and injures 71

2003

Jan 29

Hamas Shooting Attack on Road 60 injures 1

Mar 5

Hamas Suicide Bombing on the No. 37 bus in Haifa kills 15 and injures approximately 53

Mar 7

Hamas Shooting Attack in Kiryat Arba kills 2

Mar 8

Senior Hamas leader and co-founder Ibrahim al-Muqadama killed by Israel

Apr 30

Hamas Suicide Bombing at Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv kills 3 and injures 62

May 18

Hamas Suicide Bombing on the No. 6 bus, French Hill in Jerusalem kills 7 and injures 20

May 29

United States designates the Al Aqsa Foundation a Specially Designated Global Terrorist because of its affiliation with, and fundraising effort on behalf of, Hamas

Jun 11

Hamas Suicide Bombing on the No. 14A bus, Jaffa Road in Jerusalem kills 17 and injures more than 100

Jun 17

Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives fire on a car killing 1 and injuring 3

Jun 20

Hamas Shooting Attack on Road 60 kills 1 and injures 2

Jun 24

The New York Times reports that the Treasury Department and other federal agencies are pressing Saudi Arabia to closely monitor bank accounts designated for relief aid to Palestinians that may be conduits for terrorist financing

Aug 19

Hamas Suicide Bombing on the No. 2 bus in Jerusalem kills 21 and injures 102

Aug 21

Senior Hamas leader Isma’il Abu Shanab killed by Israel

Aug 22

United States designates, among others, senior Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Osama Hamdan, Khalid Mishal, Musa Abu Marzook and Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, and CBSP and Interpal, Specially Designated Global Terrorists because of their affiliation with Hamas

Aug 24

The Palestinian Authority freezes the accounts of Islamic Center of Gaza (al-Mujama al-Islami), Islamic Society Gaza (al-Jam’iya al-Islamiya) and al Salah Society because of their affiliation with Hamas

Sep 9

Hamas Suicide Bombing at Café Hillel in Jerusalem kills 7 and injures 60

Sep 12

European Union designates Hamas

Oct 4

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Suicide Bombing at Maxim Restaurant in Haifa kills 21 and injures 60

Oct 22

Hamas Shooting Attack in Tel Romeda in Hebron injures 2

2004

Jan 29

Hamas and Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades Suicide Bombing on the Bus No. 19 in Jerusalem kills 11 and injures more than 50

Feb 25

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raid Arab Bank’s Ramallah-based branches and seize large sums of money from accounts of Unlawful Organizations and individuals associated with terrorism, mostly from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad

Mar 22

Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin killed by Israel

Apr 17

Senior Hamas leader Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi killed by Israel

Jul 2

Linde v. Arab Bank Complaint filed in federal court in New York; Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) launches probe into New York branch of Arab Bank

Jul 26

Holy Land Foundation indicted in Dallas, Texas

Sep 24

Hamas Mortar Attack on Neve Dekalim kills 1 and injures 3

Nov 11

Arab Bank submits its motion to dismiss the Linde v. Arab Bank First Amended Complaint, attaching a declaration from its Chief Banking Officer, Shukry Bishara, as an exhibit

2005

Feb 24

OCC issues Consent Order regarding Arab Bank’s New York branch, finding that Arab Bank had inadequate controls over its funds transfer business; the inadequacy was deemed especially serious because of the high risk characteristics of many of the transactions

Aug 17

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issues Civil Penalty Consent Order fining Arab Bank $24 Million dollars for violating the anti-money laundering program requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act and the regulations issued pursuant to it

Sep 2

District Court largely denies Arab Bank’s Motion to Dismiss Linde First Amended Complaint and Coulter Complaint

2006

Jun 9

Israel designates the Nablus Zakat Committee an Unlawful Organization because of its affiliation with Hamas

Nov 25

Magistrate judge overrules Arab Bank’s Bank Secrecy Objections

Dec 13

District Court orders Arab Bank to produce transactional documents reviewed by the OCC

2007

May 7

Plaintiffs and Arab Bank enter into Consent Order defining the scope of document production for records located outside the United States

2008

Nov 24

Holy Land Foundation and five of its leaders convicted of providing material support to Hamas

2009

Jun 1

Magistrate judge enters Report and Recommendation regarding sanctions to impose on Arab Bank for its failure to produce court ordered discovery

Jun 3

District Court reprimands Arab Bank counsel, calling questions they asked at Plaintiffs’ depositions “harassing and improper”

2010

Jul 12

District Court enters sanctions against Arab Bank for its failure to produce court ordered discovery

Jul 26

Arab Bank files its motion for reconsideration of the sanctions decision

Oct 5

District Court denies Arab Bank’s motion for reconsideration

Nov 4

Arab Bank files petition for a writ of mandamus regarding the sanctions decision

2011

Dec 6

District Court precludes certain Arab Bank proposed expert witnesses from testifying

2012

Nov 14

Senior Hamas leader and leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Ahmad al-Ja’bari killed by Israel

2013

Jan 18

Second Circuit Court of Appeals denies Arab Bank’s writ of mandamus regarding the July 12, 2010 sanctions decision

Feb 6

District Court precludes certain Arab Bank proposed expert witnesses from testifying

April 24

Jun 24

District Court largely denies Arab Bank’s motion for summary judgment

Arab Bank files a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court appealing the Second Circuit Court of Appeals’ denial of Arab Bank’s writ of mandamus regarding the July 12, 2010 sanctions decision

May 14

District Court denies Arab Bank’s motion to submit evidence of foreign law

May 24

District Court precludes certain Arab Bank proposed expert witnesses from testifying

Jun 17

District Court imposes attorneys’ fees on Arab Bank as part of its sanctioning for its failure to provide court ordered discovery

Jun 20

District Court reinstates Plaintiffs previously dismissed on statute of limitations grounds

Aug 22

District Court rules on certain of the parties’ motions in limine

Oct 21

United States Supreme Court asks the Office of the Solicitor General of the United States to opine on Arab Bank’s petition for a writ of certiorari

2014

May 23

Solicitor General recommends that the U.S. Supreme Court deny Arab Bank’s petition for a writ of certiorari

Jun 30

The U.S. Supreme Court denies Arab Bank’s petition for a writ of certiorari

Aug 12

Trial begins concerning Arab Bank’s liability solely with respect to Plaintiffs killed or injured in 24 attacks allegedly carried out by Hamas

Sep 22

The jury finds Arab Bank responsible for all 24 attacks in question, which the jury determined had been carried out by Hamas

Oct 10

Arab Bank files motions seeking judgment as a matter of law, a new trial, and certification of an interlocutory appeal

2015

April 8

District Court denies Arab Bank’s motion for judgment as a matter of law, except for ruling that Plaintiffs had not proffered sufficient evidence to establish Hamas responsibility (and therefore Arab Bank liability) for 2 of the 24 attacks. District Court denies Arab Bank’s motions for a new trial and for certification of an interlocutory appeal

Aug 14

Three days before the first damages trial is slated to begin, which will determine compensation for 17 Plaintiffs selected by the District Court (“Bellwether Trial Plaintiffs”), the parties agree to postpone the trial because they have reached the framework to resolve the case

Nov 16

Counsel for the parties execute a Master Settlement Agreement on behalf of all Plaintiffs

2016

May 24

District Court enters a Stipulation reached by the parties to enter final judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b) for 16 of the 17 Bellwether Plaintiffs

Jun 22

In accordance with the terms of the Master Settlement Agreement, Arab Bank files its Notice of Appeal of the judgment entered by the District Court on May 24. Under the terms of the settlement, the precise amount of compensation paid by Arab Bank will be determined by the outcome of the (one time) appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 

Oct 20

Arab Bank files its appellate brief

2017

Jan 18

Plaintiffs file their opposition to Arab Bank’s brief

May 16

Oral Argument before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals