HARTFORD – On Tuesday morning, August 23, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined Dr. Leonard Eisenfeld of West Hartford in front of the U.S. District Court in Hartford, to seek justice for Eisenfeld’s son, Matthew, who was killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem that was financed and supported by the Iranian government.

Matthew Eisenfeld, 25, and his girlfriend Sara Duker, 22, of New Jersey, were on a bus in Jerusalem in 1996 when a suicide bomber trained and financed by Iran detonated a bomb that killed 26 people.The families successfully secured a $327 million judgment against the Iranian government using the Terrorism Exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, a measure passed by Congress to address acts of terrorism against U.S. citizens on foreign soil. However, the families have been unable to collect the judgment due to intervention by a court in Italy where the Iranians are holding their funds.

Blumenthal, with the support of U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has introduced a resolution calling on Italy to cease stonewalling and recognize the judgment.

“Iran must pay for its crime for training and financing the suicide bomber who violently ripped Matt and Sara away from their families,” said Blumenthal. “Italy’s action – thwarting and stonewalling justice for these families – is reprehensible and wrong. These families have shown unimaginable strength through unspeakable pain, and have led a powerful effort to hold Iran accountable for the evil it has done. I call on Italy to reverse this misguided decision and to side with these families against Iran’s unconscionable actions.”

To read Sen. Blumenthal’s resolution visit http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/download/terrorism-judgment-resolution.

CAP: At the Aug. 23 event at the state capitol: (l to r) Bob Fishman, executive director of the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT), Dr. Len Eisenfeld, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Eisenfeld lawyer Steve Perles.