During my most recent counter-terrorism training mission to the Middle East, I had the honor of meeting a courageous and innovative individual.

Her name is Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, ESQ. Nitsana is the founder of the non-profit Shurat HaDin (English translation: The Israel Law Center). Western Intelligence agencies and countries, including the United States, have benefited in their fight against Radical Islamic terrorism because of the dedicated work of Mrs. Darshan-Leitner and the Israel Law Center.

Mossad officials (The Israeli Intelligence Institute that is the equivalent of the CIA in the U.S.) stated because of the legal activities of Nitsana and The Israel Law Center, terrorist activity in the Gaza Strip has been reduced by as much as 60%.

Established in 2003 and based in Tel-Aviv, Shurat HaDin has become the world leader in fighting terrorism through civil lawsuits and other legal action. Shurat HaDin works together with western intelligence agencies and volunteer attorneys around the world to file legal actions on behalf of victims of terrorist acts.

Following the model pioneered by the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center a non-profit legal center that over the last four decades has successfully confronted and shut down racist groups across America,Shurat HaDin represents hundreds of victims in cases against Islamic terrorist groups and countries that are state sponsors of terrorism such as; Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority, Iran, Syria, and the financial institutions that act as front organizations for these terrorist elements finances.

Shurat HaDin’s main goals are:
-Stop the flow of terror money through massive civil suits and other legal actions.
-Defend the victims of terror and their families, by representing them in court, seeking disbursement of funds and implementation of rulings.
-Educate the broader public about terrorism and terror funding through missions, public lectures, publications, etc.
-To bankrupt terrorism and halt its activities through legal action.
-To educate financial institutions around the world about how terrorism funding works and how they expose themselves if they choose to turn a blind eye.

Above all else, Shurat HaDin looks to educate and fight for the rights of the victims and their families of terrorist acts, who rarely know they have legal recourse against the world’s most vicious criminals, Islamic terrorists.

The results of Shurat HaDin’s efforts have been phenomenal, they include:
-Over $1 Billion in judgments against Islamic terrorist organizations and state sponsors of terrorism.
-Over 20 Million in recoveries, money that went DIRECTLY TO THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM AND THEIR FAMILIES, many of whom have lost, along with their loved ones, the basis of their livelihood.
-Over $600 Million in terror assets frozen, money that would otherwise have made its way to Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups. Compare this roughly with the $140 Million frozen terrorist assets as a result of U.S. government action in the same period, and it becomes clear how effective private civil suits can be.

But the most important effect of Shurat HaDin’s efforts has been to put a massive roadblock in the path of Radical Islamic terrorism funding. Whereas just a decade ago, terror money flowed freely throughout Western financial institutions and into the hands of terrorists, today the fear of court-ordered seizures resulting from civil suits has forced:
-Hamas and other terror groups not to use the banking system in any way but rather to smuggle their money through illegal boarder activity through underground tunnels and suitcases.
-Caused Iran to pull its assets out of Europe, shifting its business to Asia; obstructing its use of hard currency.
- And causing many banking institutions to refuse to do business with terror-funding organizations, to thoroughly investigate before opening new accounts with suspected Islamic terror groups, and closing down accounts which are suspected to be identified with terrorist organizations.
-Caused banking institutions through out the world to seek the guidance of Western Intelligence Services concerning the identities of their customers who have ties to Radical Islamic Terrorist Organizations and their front groups. This has had a withering impact on Islamic terrorism itself: According to one high ranking Mossad official.

Nitsana and her husband have six children, including a set of triplets. She and her family are outstanding examples of the type of courageous life-dedicated sacrifice, purpose, passion and courage we in the United States can learn from in protecting our country from the evils of Fundamentalist Islam and its determination to destroy our values of freedom and liberty the Radical Islamists hate so much.

To further research the work of the Israel Law Center refer their website: www.israellswcenter.org