The Biden administration has found that three military battalions from the Israel Defense Forces have been involved in “serious human rights abuses” against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. However, despite these violations, the United States will continue to provide military aid to Israel. This decision has been made based on the steps that Israel claims to be taking to address the issue.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has outlined in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, obtained by ABC News, that the administration assessment, which has not yet been made public, could change if Israel fails to take specific steps.
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In a recent statement, Blinken assured that the United States’ decision will not cause any delays in delivering assistance, and Israel will still receive the full amount of aid approved by Congress.
The allegations involving each unit took place prior to the start of the war on October 7th, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. It is important to note that none of these cases are related to operations against Hamas in Gaza or any actions against Iran or its proxies.
The decision is expected to stir up critics of the Biden administration who argue that insufficient measures are being taken to hold Israel responsible for the military operations in Gaza, which have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and pushed the civilian population towards famine.
Issa Amro, a well-known Palestinian human rights activist residing in the West Bank city of Hebron, expressed his disappointment but lack of surprise regarding the decision made by the United States.
In an interview with ABC News, he expressed his disappointment with the lack of tangible efforts by the U.S. to minimize violence and promote peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Administration officials argue that they have conducted a fair review of human rights violations and that Israel has not been given any preferential treatment. They also point out that it is not unusual for the United States to collaborate with countries through a process called “remediation,” which aims to encourage foreign nations to address issues of misconduct within their armed forces.
During a press briefing on Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of handling each unique situation with care and thoroughness. He acknowledged the need to gather all the relevant facts and make decisions based on those facts. Blinken assured reporters that this approach is being taken in the ongoing U.S. review, highlighting the commitment to a diligent and fact-based process.
The U.S. military is obligated under the Leahy Law to refrain from providing weapons, training, and other military assistance to any foreign military unit that engages in severe human rights violations.
According to Blinken’s letter, an exception is permitted under the law for countries that have taken measures to hold the responsible members of the unit accountable.
According to an anonymous source familiar with the matter, the United States and Israel have a special agreement that mandates the United States to engage in consultations with Israel prior to making any decisions pertaining to the Foreign Assistance Act.
According to the source, ongoing consultations with Israel are being held to address the issue at hand. It is stated that if a military unit fails to take appropriate measures to address the situation and ensure accountability, there may be restrictions on US aid.
According to Blinken’s letter, five units, three military and two civilian, are currently being investigated for human rights violations. Out of these units, four have already taken appropriate measures to address and rectify the situation.
Israel has admitted that another IDF battalion had behaved in a manner that contradicted Israel’s rules, according to Blinken. Consequently, the unit was relocated from the West Bank to the Golan Heights in 2022.
The Netzah Yehuda battalion, established specifically for ultra-orthodox Jewish men, fits this description perfectly.
In his letter, Secretary of State Blinken acknowledged that the Israeli government has shared fresh information concerning the unit’s status. He expressed a commitment to work together in order to find a suitable solution for addressing the issues related to this unit.
President Johnson, a strong advocate for Israel, recently received assurance from the President that the United States’ support for Israel’s ability to defend itself against Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and other threats remains unwavering. This support was reinforced when Johnson played a key role in successfully passing a foreign aid bill through Congress.
According to Blinken, there were no other units discovered to be in violation of the Leahy Law.
During this week, the secretary engaged in discussions with senior Israeli officials in response to recent reports by Axios and ProPublica regarding the alleged plans of the United States to impose sanctions on IDF units.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his determination to oppose the Biden administration’s decision, considering it a “moral low.”
