Lebanese Banks Sued For Hizbullah Links

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Israelis have filed a lawsuit against five Lebanese
banks that operate in the United States.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in New York alleged that the
Lebanese banks were linked to the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. The 50
plaintiffs, in a suit filed on July 3, said the five banks financed
Hizbullah military activities against Israel, including the 2006 war.
Hizbullah was said to receive at least $100 million a year from Iran, and at
least another $50 from Shi'ite communities and fronts around the world.
The five Lebanese banks, which operate in the United States, were
accused of offering services to Hizbullah despite its designation by the
United States as a terrorist organization. The plaintiffs said they or their
relatives were victims of the 34-day war, during which Hizbullah fired 4,500
rockets into Israel.
The Lebanese banks were identified as Fransabank, Lebanon Commerce Bank,
Bank of Beirut, Banque Libano-Francaise and Middle East Africa Bank. Each of
the banks was said to have maintained correspondent U.S. dollar accounts
used by Hizbullah to receive money.