But in doing so they struck a blow against sovereign immunity, a previously sacrosanct principle in international relations, and disturbed diplomatic ties with US allies and foes alike. The text of the JASTA law does not mention Saudi Arabia, but the law's champions made it clear that its intent is to allow plaintiffs to seek damages for the September 11 attacks. Saudi Arabia, which sees itself as the US partner in a hostile region, was outraged. "It means the king of Saudi Arabia can be hauled into court in New York and interrogated by an attorney," said Bernard Haykel, professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton. "It's very, very close long-term allies of the United States who are disturbed," scholar Hussein Ibish told the conference, dubbing the law a "Pandora's Box" of diplomatic disasters.

Source: Bangkok Post October 26, 2016 07:41 UTC