TOM HAYS
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for American victims of foreign terrorist organizations say a large Jordan-based bank funneled tens of millions of dollars to the families of suicide bombers and terrorist operatives with ties to Hamas.

Opening statements were made Thursday in federal court in New York City in the case against Arab Bank. Jurors are being asked to decide whether Arab Bank should be held liable in terror attacks that killed Americans.

The trial stems from a lawsuit filed by victims of terror attacks in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank during a Palestinian uprising from 2001 to 2004.

An Arab Bank attorney countered Thursday that it had followed regulations to screen transactions against lists of known terrorists compiled by the U.S. and European officials and none were flagged.

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