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US man seeks to seize flotilla ships using anti-piracy law
By RON FRIEDMAN
06/18/2011 22:19


Lawsuit filed in NY court seeks to confiscate 14 ships slated to participate in upcoming flotilla on grounds they were outfitted with unlawful funds.

Dr. Alan Bauer, an American victim of a Palestinian terror attack, filed on Thursday a first of its kind lawsuit in an effort to seize ships used by Islamic and anti-Israeli organizations to breach Israel's coastal blockade of the Gaza Strip as part of the upcoming flotilla.

The suit, Bauer v. The Mavi Marmara, was filed in Manhattan federal court, seeking to confiscate 14 ships, which are scheduled to participate in the upcoming flotilla and which were outfitted with funds the plaintiff claims were unlawfully raised in the United States by anti-Israel groups, including The Free Gaza Movement.

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The plaintiff, an American biologist, who along with his son Jonathan was seriously injured in a Palestinian suicide bombing on March 21, 2002 in Jerusalem, alleges that The Free Gaza Movement and other American-based anti-Israel organizations have raised funds in the United States to outfit the Gaza Flotilla ships. The lawsuit contends that furnishing and outfitting the ships, which are being used for hostilities against a US ally, violates American law. The plaintiff rests his claim upon the rarely utilized 18th century "informant" statute (18 U.S.C. section 962) that allows a plaintiff (called an "informer") to privately seize ships outfitted in the United States for use against a US ally.
The statute states that, “Whoever, within the United States, furnishes, fits out, arms, or attempts to furnish, fit out or arm, any vessel, with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince, or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise, or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace; or Whoever issues or delivers a commission within the United State for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed - Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

“Every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Robert J. Tolchin Esq. of New York, and Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, of Israel, founder of Israeli human rights group Shurat HaDin.

This is the first lawsuit brought to seize the Gaza Flotilla ships.

"We intend to seize the Gaza Flotilla ships and turn them over to a victim of Palestinian terrorism. The extremists organizing these hostile provocations against Israel must not be allowed to illegally raise funds for their operations in the US. Escalating attacks on Israel from all directions require new and innovative responses. This unprecedented private action will help block their efforts to breach the coastal blockade and smuggle materials to Hamas in Gaza," Darshan-Leitner said.

Attorney Robert Tolchin added, "This lawsuit will bring judgment to people who have until now ignored the law. Each flotilla ship is an attack on Israel and thus a slap in the face to the United States and every other nation that is at peace with Israel. The flotilla organizers, and the owners of these boats, should be held accountable for the damages and deaths they cause."

Shurat Hadin has been spearheading the legal battle against the upcoming flotilla, filing lawsuits in several countries, targeting the flotilla’s organizers and sponsors as well as essential service providers.

Last week one of the ships that was scheduled to participate in the flotilla was informed that it would not be insured by its maritime insurance company, after the group sent out a warning letter, effectively making it impossible for the ship to leave its port in Marseilles.

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