According to reports, the Biden administration may impose sanctions on an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalion accused of committing human rights abuses in the West Bank before the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas-led terrorists.
U.S. Axios reports that Secretary of State Antony Blinken may announce sanctions against the IDF battalion “Netzah Yehuda” within days, marking the first time the US has imposed sanctions on Israeli-run military units.
If the sanctions are imposed, the battalion and its members will no longer receive any training or assistance from the US military, sources reportedly told the publication.
The U.S. will refrain from providing any foreign aid or Department of Defense training to countries responsible for alleged human rights abuses based on credible information. Leahy is prohibited by law.
Fox News Digital U.S. The State Department and the White House were contacted but did not immediately hear back.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Blinken was asked about Israeli human rights abuses in the West Bank and his department’s recommendations to cut military aid to some Israeli units.
Blinken begins by saying that Leahy’s Law is important and applies across the board.
“When we’re doing these investigations, these investigations, it’s a time-consuming thing, we have to be very careful both in gathering the facts and analyzing them – and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” he said. “And I think it’s fair to say that you’ll see results very quickly. I’ve made conclusions; you’ll see them in the coming days.”
On Friday, the U.S. struck two organizations that have raised money for Israeli men accused of settler violence and an ally of Israel’s national security minister. Sanctions have been imposed. Additional new restrictions came earlier this year on five settlers and others placed on two unauthorized outposts. The increased sanctions reflect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s growing frustration with the U.S.
Friday’s sanctions would freeze US assets held by those targeted while preventing Americans from dealing with them.
Right-wing members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, which is pushing for the annexation of the West Bank and the expansion of Jewish settlements, are reportedly upset with the Biden administration over moves against Israeli settlers.
The tension between Israel and Washington is also adding fuel to the fire as they urge Israel to refrain from attacking Iran.
One of the individuals sanctioned by the U.S. is Ben-Zion Gopstein, founder and leader of the right-wing group Lehava. The group does not support the assimilation of Jews with non-Jews and has about 5,000 members.
“Under Gopstein’s leadership, Lehava and its members have committed acts or threats of violence against Palestinians, often targeting sensitive or volatile areas,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement obtained by Reuters.
Miller warned that additional measures would be taken if Israel did not act to prevent terrorist attacks as violence flared in the West Bank.
The European Union also agreed to impose sanctions on Lehava and other groups.
But America is not just targeting Israel. Indeed, last week, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced that sanctions would be imposed on Iran after it attacked Israel last Saturday.
The sanctions were announced as Republicans criticized the Biden administration for not being tough enough on Iran, with the White House signaling an extended waiver through November 2023 that previously released $10 billion in funding to Iran.
The U.S. The actions being taken will “continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capability and influence and confront the full extent of its problematic behaviors,” Sullivan said.
“Over the past three years, in addition to missile and drone-related sanctions, the United States has sanctioned 600 individuals and entities associated with terrorism, terrorist financing and other forms of illicit trade, egregious human rights abuses, and support for proxy terrorists. Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah. groups including,” the statement added.
“The pressure will continue. In coordination with allies and partners around the world and with Congress, we will not hesitate to continue to act to hold the Iranian government accountable for its harmful and destabilizing actions.”