Family sues Palestinians for terror deaths

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JERUSALEM, July 7 (UPI) -- Relatives of an Israeli family slain in a 2001 terrorist attack say they are suing the Palestinian Authority for $172 million in damages.

Their lawsuit claims six imprisoned Palestinian militants caused the deaths of married couple Sharon and Yaniv Ben-Shalom and Sharon's brother Doron Yosef Sviri, as well as critically injuring two of the couple's daughters, Ynetnews.com reported Monday.

The suit says the family was stopped at a gas station when a group of armed men from Ramallah fired at them with automatic weapons. The suit also claims the family's relatives learned about the tragedy from watching a television news report, Ynetnews.com said.

"It is impossible to describe and to contain the pain, sorrow, loss and fury that have become the lot of the plaintiffs in this appeal, which is an outcome of the crimes committed by these malicious people," attorneys for the survivors wrote in the suit's introduction.

They are requesting the court to approve the compensation of about $172 million for the loss of the families and for deterrence purposes, the Web site said.