Bat Yam sues Iran for 250 million shekels — and serves the papers on an Iranian diplomat in Manhattan

The Israeli city of Bat Yam has filed a 250-million-shekel lawsuit against Iran over an Iranian missile strike that killed nine residents, wounded 178 and damaged 160 buildings during Operation Rising Lion, Ynet reported. Twenty-two of those buildings had to be demolished immediately.

The case, initiated by Mayor Tzvika Brot, was filed in Jerusalem District Court. An international legal team led by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Shurat HaDin–Israel Law Center prepared the lawsuit in Hebrew and translated it into Persian.

To show that an official Iranian representative had received the lawsuit or at least been given a chance to read it, Brot and members of his delegation traveled to Manhattan last week. In coordination with Israeli officials, U.S. authorities and security personnel, they waited near United Nations headquarters for a diplomat from Iran's mission to the UN. Lookouts spotted the first secretary of the mission leaving a building. When he stopped at a traffic light, Brot introduced himself. The diplomat said he was not permitted to engage with them and tried to walk away. The group stayed with him through Manhattan for several minutes and read the lawsuit aloud.

Iran now has 60 days to respond. Bat Yam officials expect Tehran not to take part, which could open the way to a default judgment. Collecting the money is another question. Municipal officials are looking at funds connected to the Eilat-Ashkelon Pipeline Company, a pre-1979 Israeli-Iranian venture. An international arbitration ruling later ordered Israel to pay Iran about $1.1 billion over its share in the project, but Israel has refused to transfer the money because of restrictions on dealing with an enemy state. Bat Yam hopes that if it wins, part of those funds could be redirected to compensate the city.

Brot received backing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, Justice Ministry and security officials, according to people involved in the initiative, Ynet reported. The municipality named the service operation "Open Account."

"They sent us missiles, and we sent them a bill," Brot said. "Their representative may have tried to get away from us on the streets of New York, but they will not escape responsibility for what they did to my city."

Darshan-Leitner said: "It is time for the Iranians to pay for their actions. We will continue fighting on behalf of terror victims until we economically bring down the ayatollahs' regime."