Court Reinstates $655M Terror Verdict Against Palestinian Authority

A U.S. federal appeals court on Sunday reinstated a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority and PLO, reviving a 2015 jury award to American survivors and families of Second Intifada terrorist attacks. The ruling follows the Supreme Court’s prior decision clearing the jurisdictional pathway for U.S. courts to hear such cases. The PA has long bankrolled its ‘pay for slay’ policy — monthly stipends to terrorists and their families — and is now facing the full legal consequence of that policy in U.S. federal court.

• The U.S. Court of Appeals reinstated the original 2015 Sokolow v. Palestinian Authority ruling ordering the PA and PLO to pay $655.5 million to American victims of Second Intifada attacks.
• The Supreme Court had previously cleared the jurisdictional pathway, allowing U.S. courts to hear cases against foreign entities like the PA for terrorism committed abroad against Americans.
• The PA’s ‘pay for slay’ policy — ongoing stipend payments to terrorists and their families — was a central element of the original lawsuit.
• The ruling sets a significant precedent for U.S. legal accountability for foreign entities that fund terrorism targeting American citizens.

This is the single most significant legal accountability moment for the Palestinian Authority in decades. ICAN should monitor whether this verdict energizes congressional supporters of Taylor Force Act enforcement and anti-'pay for slay' legislation — and whether the ruling becomes a flashpoint in the NJ-11 special election, where the Democratic nominee has accused Israel of genocide.

In the only debate before the April 29 special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, Democratic nominee Analilia Mejia was put on the defensive over her record — including her accusation that Israel is committing genocide — by Republican Joe Hathaway. Jewish Insider reported that Hathaway repeatedly accused Mejia of antisemitism and argued her stances would make the district’s sizable Jewish community unsafe. The seat was vacated by Mikie Sherrill, who became governor.

• Mejia has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, a position Hathaway hammered throughout the sole debate.
• The district has a substantial Jewish population, making Israel policy a live electoral issue in this April 29 special election.
• AIPAC spent heavily in the Democratic primary against Mejia’s opponent Tom Malinowski — but Mejia won the nomination anyway, a notable setback.
• A Mejia win would send an anti-Israel progressive voice to Congress from a district with a historically pro-Israel Jewish constituency.

NJ-11 is a test case for whether anti-Israel progressives can win in Jewish-heavy districts. A Mejia victory would signal a significant shift in how Democratic candidates approach the Jewish community. This race deserves full ICAN monitoring through Election Day.

President Trump has set Tuesday at 8 PM Eastern as his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on power plants and bridges. Trump told Fox News Sunday that a deal is possible ‘as soon as Monday,’ but ceasefire mediators told the Wall Street Journal that talks hit a dead end after Iran refused to meet U.S. officials in Islamabad. The IRGC publicly declared the Strait ‘will never return to its previous state,’ directly defying Trump’s ultimatum. U.S. and Israeli sources confirmed a synchronized target list exists for strikes on strategic Iranian sites.

• Trump’s ultimatum: Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday at 8 PM Eastern or face ‘Power Plant Day and Bridge Day’ strikes.
• Ceasefire mediators reported a dead end — Iran refused direct talks in Islamabad and has not engaged substantively on any U.S. demands.
• The IRGC publicly rejected Trump’s demands, declaring the Strait will ‘never return to its previous state’ for the U.S. and Israel.
• U.S. and Israeli military establishments have synchronized a target list for strikes on strategic Iranian sites if no deal is reached, per senior sources.

The next 48 hours are the most consequential of the six-week war. If strikes expand to Iranian energy infrastructure, regional and economic fallout will be severe. ICAN should track congressional reactions closely — particularly whether Democrats use any escalation as a pretext to renew calls for cutting off military support to Israel.

Two antisemitic incidents emerged over the Passover weekend. In Miami Beach, a 32-year-old man was arrested after allegedly confronting a Jewish father and his two young children at a public park with antisemitic slurs and threats, prompting the father to draw a firearm in what police ruled self-defense. In Connecticut, a Catholic high school disciplined students after posts circulated reading ‘Win or lose, we booze, and at least we’re not Jews’ — targeting a Jewish rival hockey team ahead of a state championship game.

• Miami Beach: Suspect targeted a Jewish father and two children at Stillwater Park, made antisemitic threats — father drew a licensed firearm; police confirmed self-defense.
• Connecticut: Fairfield Prep students posted antisemitic content targeting a Jewish rival hockey team ahead of the state championship.
• Both incidents occurred during Passover week, amid elevated community security postures nationally.
• The Miami incident illustrates the growing pattern of armed antisemitic confrontations documented in NYPD and ADL threat assessments this season.

Passover consistently triggers antisemitic incidents, and these two cases capture both the physical confrontation and social media dimensions of the threat. The Miami Beach incident validates ICAN's community security messaging — the armed self-defense outcome is significant. The Connecticut case shows antisemitism penetrating youth sports culture in non-politically obvious settings.