Results for: Leahy Law

The United States has determined that an Israeli military unit engaged in gross human rights violations against Palestinians in the West Bank before the conflict in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that the U.S. will postpone a decision on whether to impose sanctions on the unit pending a review of new information provided by Israel. The Israeli government has vehemently opposed any such restrictions, emphasizing that U.S. military assistance for Israel’s defense remains unaffected. The scrutiny centers on a specific Israeli unit, believed to be Netzah Yehuda, which has been linked to abuses against Palestinian civilians, including the death of a 78-year-old Palestinian American in 2022. The U.S. Leahy Law mandates the cessation of military aid to foreign units responsible for severe violations of international law or human rights, but it permits waivers if appropriate reforms are implemented. This incident marks the first potential application of the Leahy Law against Israel, a close ally of the United States.

The US is set to invoke the Leahy Law, a landmark congressional act, to halt military aid to an Israeli army unit due to credible evidence of gross human rights abuses committed in the West Bank prior to the Gaza conflict. This move marks the first time a US administration has invoked the law against an Israeli military unit and highlights the strain in US-Israeli relations. The Leahy Law, championed by former Senator Patrick Leahy, mandates the automatic cutoff of aid to military units found to have committed such abuses. Despite accusations of shirking rigorous investigations, Israel maintains that its security forces investigate abuses and hold offenders accountable.

The State Department is investigating allegations of Israeli human rights abuses and will announce restrictions on military aid for specific units, including one with a high conviction rate for abuses against Palestinian civilians. Secretary of State Blinken said the investigation follows the same standards as for any other country and will consider evidence of possible violations involving U.S. weapons.