US walks back on sanctioning Israeli occupation forces unit
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The United States allows the Israeli occupation forces units found to be committing human rights violations to walk away scott-free after reversing sanctions decision.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference, April 26, 2024, in Beijing, China (AP)
The Biden administration, after reportedly finding three battalions within the Israeli occupation forces to be violating human rights and taking the decision to sanction it, decided not to proceed with the punitive measures.
The three battalions, found to be committing "gross human rights violations" against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, will walk away scott-free as no sanctions will be imposed on them, ABC News reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Binken informed US House Speaker Mike Johnson of the decision in a Friday letter, wherein he reportedly said the fact that they were found to be violating human rights would not impede or delay the delivery of any type of assistance to the Israeli occupation.
Blinken underlined that the Israeli occupation forces would receive the full amount of arms and funds appropriated by Congress.
It is not at all surprising that the Biden administration did not go forward with the sanctions, as Israeli lobbying is known to be fully effective, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to fight tooth and nail against the sanctions.
Netanyahu had declared his staunch opposition to any potential sanctions imposed on Israeli military units over rights violations.
In a statement, Netanyahu asserted, "If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the [Israeli forces] - I will fight it with all my strength."
Sanctions to befall Israeli units
Axios reported Saturday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is poised to announce sanctions against the Israel occupation forces (IOF) Netzah Yehuda Battalion for "alleged human rights violations" in the occupied West Bank.
This would have marked the first instance of the United States imposing sanctions on an Israeli military unit, which comes as a surprise, especially since the IOF has been enjoying impunity in Gaza and practically since its inception in 1948.
The sanctions were set to prohibit the battalion and its members from receiving any form of US military assistance or training, as outlined by a 1997 law authored by former Senator Patrick Leahy. This law prohibits U.S. foreign aid and Defense Department training programs from benefiting foreign security, military, and police units credibly accused of human rights violations.
The decision to sanction the Netzah Yehuda unit follows an alleged 'comprehensive investigation' conducted by a special State Department panel, which recommended disqualifying multiple Israeli military and police units operating in the West Bank from receiving US aid.
During a press conference in Italy, Blinken acknowledged the panel's recommendation and indicated that the administration would make decisions based on the results of the investigation.
A US official clarified that the sanctions against the Netzah Yehuda unit stem from incidents predating the October 7 Operation al-Aqsa Flood and were exclusively confined to actions occurring in the West Bank.
The Netzah Yehuda battalion, initially established as a specialized unit for ultra-orthodox soldiers, has garnered attention over the years for its controversial role in the West Bank. The battalion, exclusively composed of men, has been accused of violence against Palestinian civilians, just as the remainder of the Israeli occupation forces.
It was later reported that the United States might impose sanctions against units of the Israeli military and police other than the Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations, The Times of Israel reported on Monday citing undisclosed US sources; but it seems that none of that will come to fruition in light of the impurity enjoyed by "Israel", especially in the United States.
