The ruling was issued under Israel’s Victims of Terror Compensation Law, which took effect in June 2024, allowing terror victims and their families to claim financial compensation from funds held by Israel on behalf of the PA. The Shnerb family plans to use the seized funds for charitable causes in Rina’s memory.
A Legal Precedent Against Palestinian Terror Funding
The attack took place in August 2019, when Rina, her father, and her older brother were hiking near Ein Bubin Spring, located in the Binyamin region. A terrorist had planted an explosive device at the site, detonating it just as the Shnerb family arrived. Rina was killed instantly, while her father and brother suffered severe injuries and permanent disabilities. Following the attack, her parents, Rabbi Eitan and Shira Shnerb, with the legal assistance of Attorney Asher Shtub from the Justice for Terror Victims organization, petitioned the court to seize Palestinian Authority funds held by Israel, arguing that the PA financially rewards terrorists and their families.
The Legal Basis: Israel’s Terror Victim Compensation Law
The lawsuit was filed under Israel’s new Victims of Terror Compensation Law, which grants:
$2.7 million (10 million shekels) in damages for families of terror victims
$1.35 million (5 million shekels) in damages for victims with permanent disabilities. Attorney Asher Shtub emphasized that the lawsuit’s goal is to prevent terrorist funds from being used to reward attackers and instead redirect them to support victims and their families.
“We Will Use This Money for Good”
In response to the ruling, the Shnerb family made a powerful statement: “They came to murder and destroy. We will take the money that was meant for terror and do the exact opposite—spread goodness in the world and engage in boundless acts of kindness.” The family also called on other terror victims’ families to follow suit: “We want other families to know that they can join the fight against the funding of terror.”
A Turning Point in the Fight Against Terror Funding
This decision marks a significant legal and moral victory for terror victims and their families. By seizing funds from the Palestinian Authority, Israel is ensuring that financial support once used to incentivize terrorism will instead go towards supporting those affected by it.
With the Shnerb family’s commitment to using the funds for acts of charity, Rina’s memory will live on—not through terror, but through kindness, justice, and hope.
