Seeking Justice for Victims of Palestinian Terrorism in Israel

PURPOSE:

•  To examine the role of the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism (OVT).
• To highlight the threat of terrorism to Americans in Israel.
• To examine U.S. policy for prosecuting overseas terrorists in the United States.

BACKGROUND:

•  The OVT was established on May 6, 2005 and directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to establish OVT “… to ensure that the investigation and prosecution of deaths of American citizens overseas [as a result of terrorism] are a high priority within DOJ.”
• According to OVT’s website, there have been 48 designated terrorist attacks involving U.S. citizens in Israel and the Palestinian Authority since 1994.
  • Most recently, in November 2015, 18-year-old American Ezra Schwartz was killed by terrorists while in the West Bank.