( CNN ) A U.S. court has ruled that the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Liberation Organization must pay more than $ 650 million to American citizens and their loved ones for attacks in Israel in the early 2000s . This week 's decision , issued from the U.S. District Court in southern New York , could mean millions of dollars each to 40 people or their estates . Such a ruling may also open the door to similar lawsuits against foreign governments for their part in terrorism , like one against Saudi Arabia 's government tied to the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks . That said , the decision is n't final . And even if it does hold up , there 's no guarantee the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Liberation Organization will pay up . Both groups are `` deeply disappointed '' by Monday 's ruling , which Palestinian Authority spokesman Mahmoud Khalifa said stemmed from `` baseless '' charges and `` ignored the legal precedent set time and again by other U.S. courts ... that established U.S. courts are not the proper jurisdiction for such a hearing . '' Khalifa expressed confidence that the PLO and Palestinian Authority will prevail in American courts during its coming appeal . Palestinian leaders are combating `` extremism and violence and maintain a strong commitment to nonviolent resistance and international legal , political and moral redress , '' the spokesman added , claiming that this case does n't help in this regard . `` This case is just the latest attempt by hardline anti-peace factions in Israel to use and abuse the U.S. legal system to advance their narrow political agenda , '' Khalifa said . `` The decision is a tragic disservice to the millions of Palestinians who have invested in the democratic process and the rule of law in order to seek justice and redress their grievances , and to the international community which has invested so much in financial and political capital in a two-state solution . '' The U.S. case dates back to the Second Intifada , or armed uprising , in which Palestinians staged a series of deadly attacks inside Israel . According to figures from Israel 's internal security agency , known as the Shin Bet , some 488 Israelis died in suicide attacks between 2001 and 2004 . Americans got caught up in some of those attacks , including the dozens listed in the U.S. court case . A few were killed , more were burned or wounded by gunshots or shrapnel , while others suffered `` severe emotional , mental and economic harm , '' according to a related complaint . One such American was Mark Sokolow . On 9/11 , the lawyer from New York escaped the World Trade Center before its twin towers collapsed . Then , four months later , he was walking through West Jerusalem when a bomb went off , killing one man and wounding more than 110 people . Sokolow afterward told CNN that he suffered mostly superficial injuries , though his wife 's condition was `` a little bit more serious . '' `` I feel very fortunate that someone , God , is looking over us to make sure that we 're OK , '' he said then . That and other attacks occurred when Yasser Arafat led the Palestinian Authority and as Israeli authorities clamped down on him and his allies . The violence abated when then-PA Prime MInister Mahmoud Abbas began to take over -- a move that became complete with Arafat 's death in 2004 . Abbas , who has preached nonviolence even as issues with Israel have persisted , has been President now for a decade . The U.S. case was tried in New York because the PLO has an office in New York City , which is home of the United Nations . Even if it did not appeal , the Palestinian Authority would appear hard-pressed to pay damages to the plaintiffs . Israel has played a part in those issues , like its decision to freeze the transfer of more than $ 127 million in tax revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinians in the wake of their bid to join the International Criminal Court , according to Israel 's Haaretz newspaper . Yet this week 's decisions is n't just about the Palestinians . Jerry S. Goldman , a lawyer for 9/11 families suing Saudi Arabia and others , thinks it may help in his clients ' case as well . `` If you cut off the funding , you cut off the terror , '' Goldman said . `` And U.S. courts are showing that they can handle transnational terror litigation and make powerful individuals , institutions and governments who have materially supported terrorists ' pay . ''
PLO , PLO are ordered to pay more than $ 650 million to dozens of Palestinians . The decision is connected to attacks inside Israel in four months later . Official : Americans will appeal the ruling , which he says stems from `` baseless '' charges .