Lebanese community leaders in the United States have announced plans to file a federal lawsuit against US government agencies and private companies that supply Israel with weapons, military equipment, and financing used in the bombing of civilian targets in Lebanon. The lawsuit comes amid ongoing Israeli ground invasion that began on March 16, with American-supplied weapons and billions of dollars in US military funding supporting Israeli operations in major cities including Tyre, Sidon, and Beirut.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed
Nasser Beydoun, president of the Arab American Civil Rights League, confirmed the legal action in an interview with Arab News on Tuesday. He stated that the number of American citizens of Lebanese heritage who have lost property in the Israeli war on Lebanon is substantial, prompting a class action lawsuit to represent their collective interests. Beydoun emphasized that American citizens have rights that are being violated by Israel, with the assault being supported by the US government.
The lawsuit will also target private companies that provide equipment used by Israel to destroy homes and property in Lebanon. One notable company is Caterpillar, an Illinois-based manufacturer of construction equipment, including the D9 tractor, which Israel has utilized to demolish homes and property in both Lebanon and Palestine.
Legal Basis: Leahy Act
Beydoun explained that the class action lawsuit is being filed under the Leahy Act, which prohibits the US from selling weapons to any military or country that violates the rights of Americans or engages in human rights abuses against its own people. He argued that Israel is using American tax dollars to destroy homes in south Lebanon, particularly in areas like Bint Jbeil, a village located 8 miles from the Israeli border. The Bint Jbeil Center in Dearborn, Michigan, serves as a major gathering location for the Lebanese-American community, and many community members have lost their homes due to Israeli violence.
Beydoun, a respected attorney and former candidate for Michigan's Senate seat, was joined by leaders of Michigan's Lebanese-American community in announcing the lawsuit. The US State Department and Caterpillar did not respond to requests for comment from Arab News.
