Israeli Supreme Court Upholds Seizure of Funds Suspected of Terror Financing

The Israeli Supreme Court has upheld the seizure of 65,000 shekels from Omar Attia, who is suspected of involvement in terror activities and arms trafficking. Justice David Mintz ruled that direct proof of a link between the seized money and specific illegal acts is not required, a precedent previously established by the court. Attia had argued that such a link must be proven, that he was not given a fair chance to present his case, that the seizure disproportionately harmed his property rights, and that the decision to confiscate cash while returning foreign currency checks was arbitrary.

The court reviewed classified security material, which convinced the judges that the seizure was justified. Justice Mintz stated that Attia had been given an opportunity to present his claims through an appeal and a hearing attended by his legal representative. The court found no flaw in the reasoning of the committee that recommended the seizure, which was based on the classified information.

Regarding the confiscation of cash over foreign currency checks, the court deemed it logical for the military commander to seize the funds that require the least resources to liquidate. The court also rejected the claim of discrimination, stating that prioritizing the seizure of cash was a practical and expected decision. Attia was ordered to pay 5,000 shekels in legal expenses.