WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Division mentioned Friday it has opted towards what would have been its first-ever blocking of assist to an Israeli navy unit over rights abuses, saying it’s now happy with Israeli efforts to remediate the abuse.
Whereas the U.S. has not publicly recognized the Israeli unit, it’s believed to be the Netzah Yehuda, which has traditionally been based mostly within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution.
The unit and a few of its members have been linked to abuses of civilians within the Palestinian territory, together with the demise of a 78-year-old Palestinian American man after his detention by the battalion’s forces in 2022.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had decided in a discovering made public in April that an Israeli military battalion dedicated grave human-rights abuses towards Palestinians within the West Financial institution, triggering a U.S. rights regulation on assist to international safety forces referred to as the Leahy regulation.
Within the face of protests from Republican lawmakers over the discovering, Blinken mentioned he would permit assist to the unit to proceed to offer Israel time to handle the wrongdoing.
Whereas the alleged abuse occurred earlier than Israel’s warfare in Gaza, information of Blinken’s determination got here as criticism elevated over the killings of tens of 1000’s of Palestinian civilians within the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Former senior State Division officers charged that the division has a historical past of constructing exceptions for Israel in the case of Leahy regulation violations.
On Friday, the State Division mentioned in a press release that it had obtained further data from Israel about its dealing with of the case.
“After thoroughly reviewing that information, we have determined that violations by this unit have also been effectively remediated. Consistent with the Leahy process, this unit can continue receiving security assistance,” the State Division mentioned.
A U.S. official, talking on situation of anonymity to debate particulars offered by Israel, mentioned Israeli navy prosecutors had recognized two troopers as meriting additional motion. They have been faraway from fight and have since left the navy and are ineligible to serve within the reserves, the U.S. official mentioned.
Moreover, the Israeli navy mentioned it has stepped up screening, coaching and oversight for that unit, the U.S. official mentioned.
