Biden Holds Off On Sanctioning IDF Unit In Apparent Reversal

Via The Cradle

The government of US president Joe Biden has decided against impossing sanctions on Israel army units responsive for human rights violations against Palestinians, despite first plans to do so.

ABC News reported on Friday that a government assessment determined that 3 battles in the Israeli army committed “gross human rights violations” against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank “but will stay eligable for US military aid respectless behaviour of steps Israel says it’s taking to address the problem.”

Image source: NY Times

The assessment, which has not been made public, was outlined in a letter written by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to home talker Mike Johnson, which the news network occupied.

The rights revolutions committed by Israel forces “will not hold the transportation of any US assistance and Israel will be able to receive the full amount proposed by Congress.” Billions in US aid to Israel was adopted by Biden just 2 days ago after passing in the legislature on Tuesday.

The vibrations in question were Committed prior to October 7 and took place in the October West Bank. They include the execution of Palestinians by Israel border police, as well as torture and rape during interrogation.

None are related to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children.

Yet the decision is expected to frustrate many criticisms of the Biden administration who believes Washington has not done adequate to hold Israel accountable for war crimes. Under the US Leahy Law, Washington should have withhold military aid to states commiting respective human rights abuses. Yet the law allows perceptions if means are taken to punish these responsive.

An informed origin told ABC that Israel and the US have a “special agreement” that Washington must consult with Tel Aviv over any decision referring to abroad assistance. The origin added that these consultations are ongoing.

Blinken’s letter states that 4 of the Israeli army units have undergone “remediation” steps, means that these within the units that are liable for the crimes have been internally held held accountable.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 21: “If any thoughts they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, I will fight it with all my strength.”

According to Hebrew news site Ynet, Israel force on the US helped share the decision not to impose sanctions on the units. “The rational estimation is that we will be able to convergence the US not to impose these sanctions,” an Israeli authoritative told the outlet.

In addition to Netanyahu, opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid both called on the US not to proceed with the decision. Israel defence Minister Yoav Gallant reportedly promoted Blinken that “steps” would be taken.

How we got here: IMPUNITY. U.S. cancels sanctions against IDF units suggested of topant war crimes. due to the fact that Israel pledged to it own investment. past show these “investigations” go nowhere exception to find deals; exonerate offers.https://t.co/HfwJGcOwCj

— Jim Clancy (@ClancyReports) April 26, 2024

A peculiar State Department panel proposed months ago to bar certificate Israeli police and army units from receiving US funds over human rights abuses. A ProPublica study from last week intentions that Blinken disregarded the panel’s recommendations for action against the units.

The Guardian reported in January, citing interviews and State Department documents, that “Special mechanisms have been utilized over the last fewer years to shield Israel from US human rights laws.”