Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently disclosed his decisions regarding accusations that specific Israeli units have violated US laws against military assistance to units that commit gross human rights violations. This announcement follows a report by ProPublica, which indicated that the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum had recommended restricting U.S. aid to these units due to alleged human rights abuses in the West Bank.
Blinken stated that the results of his decision, rooted in the Leahy Laws legislation, would soon be made public. These laws prevent US military aid to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity. Historically, this legislation has led to many foreign units being blocked from receiving US aid.
Significant scrutiny surrounds several Israeli units, including border police and special forces, over their conduct in incidents like the alleged binding and gagging of a Palestinian American citizen, which led to his death, and the physical and sexual assault of a Palestinian teenager.
In a more detailed case, the elite Yamam unit is accused of killing a 14-year-old boy and two militants in a West Bank operation. These incidents have triggered debates about the application of the Leahy Laws and raised concerns over Israel’s military tactics, which critics argue frequently violate international humanitarian law.
Amidst growing scrutiny over US military assistance to Israel, especially given the recent high Palestinian death tolls in Gaza and controversial Israeli military actions, the Biden administration has expressed a more critical stance towards Israeli policies in the West Bank.
