NGO IN ISRAEL SUES FOREIGN MINISTER TO OBTAIN COOPERATION IN US CASE AGAINST BANK OF CHINA

A civil rights NGO in Israel has filed suit, in the High Court of Justice, to compel the country's Foreign Minister, to produce evidence that the Bank of China was warned about allowing Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) to use accounts of the bank, in the United States, for terrorist funding purposes.

Several months ago, a request was submitted to Israel, in an American lawsuit, filed by the next of kin of Americans killed in terrorist attacks in Israel, against the bank of China. but the information, and witness testimony, has not been forthcoming.  Reports indicate that the Government of China had brought pressure to bear upon Israel, to decline any cooperation in the case. I can understand the bank's fear of reputation damage, in the international financial community, but this crosses the line, in my humble opinion; it reinforces China's reputation as a bully.

The use of political pressure against Israel, regarding the release of information that could subject the Bank of China to an eventual multi-million dollar judgment, is not only disturbing, it is a reminder that one cannot expect the truth from China, regarding money laundering and terrorist financing, and that this must always be factored into your Country Risk assessment on China.