State Department Evaluates New Information on Israeli Military Unit: Potential Suspension of U.S. Aid Under Scrutiny

The State Department Evaluates New Information on Israeli Military Unit

The State Department is currently evaluating new information provided by the Israeli government regarding the status of an Israeli military unit that has been accused of committing gross violations of human rights in the West Bank. This evaluation comes in the wake of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, stated that the information provided by the Israeli government is being carefully considered as part of the decision-making process on whether to recommend suspending U.S. aid to the unit under the Leahy Law.

The Leahy Law is a federal measure that prevents the U.S. from providing weapons or funds for military assistance to groups that have credible information indicating violations of human rights. The potential suspension of aid to the Israeli military unit is now under intense public scrutiny, as the Biden administration faces growing pressure to hold Israel accountable for international human rights standards. If such a suspension were to occur, it would be unprecedented in the decades-long security partnership between the U.S. and Israel.

In the undated letter obtained and authenticated by CBS News, Secretary Blinken assures Speaker Johnson that the broader determinations made in accordance with the Leahy Law will not delay the delivery of any U.S. assistance, and Israel will continue to receive the full amount appropriated by Congress. It is worth noting that this letter was delivered to Speaker Johnson on the day the vote on a long-delayed foreign aid package was scheduled to take place. Speaker Johnson had demanded assurance from Secretary Blinken before proceeding with the vote.

In the letter, Secretary Blinken specifies that determinations have been made on three military units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and two civilian authority units that were implicated in incidents of gross human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. It is important to note that none of the investigated incidents involve Israel’s operations against Hamas in Gaza, Iran, or its proxies, and all of them predate the October 7 attacks.

According to the letter, two of the IDF battalions were found to be “credibly implicated” in gross human rights violations. However, the Israeli government had already conducted “effective remediation” for both of these units. This means that U.S. security assistance can continue to flow to these units as well as the civilian authority units. In the case of the third IDF unit, Secretary Blinken states that there has not been effective remediation to date, although the Israeli government has acknowledged that the unit engaged in conduct inconsistent with IDF rules and was transferred to the Golan Heights from the West Bank in 2022. Secretary Blinken writes that the Israeli government has presented new information regarding the status of this unit, and discussions are ongoing to identify a path to effective remediation. It is not specified in the letter whether a suspension of U.S. aid could ultimately be warranted.

CBS News has previously reported that one of the battalions found to be in violation is the Netzah Yehuda unit, which has been implicated in the death of an 80-year-old Palestinian American in 2022. Officials familiar with the process have stated that the U.S. and Israel have a formal agreement in place that requires consultation between the two governments before reaching a conclusion under the Foreign Assistance Act, which encompasses the Leahy Law. This consultation regarding the third military unit is currently taking place.

Separately, the U.S. has been reviewing whether the IDF and Israeli government are in compliance with U.S. and international humanitarian law in their conflict with Hamas. In February, President Biden issued a new national security memorandum, known as NSM20, which ordered a State Department review of all countries receiving U.S. military aid to certify their compliance with U.S. and international humanitarian law. This review was prompted by pressure from Senate Democrats, including Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who accused Israel of violating the Foreign Assistance Act and other U.S. laws in the current conflict. The results of this review are expected to be presented to Congress by May 8.

In his letter to Speaker Johnson, Secretary Blinken emphasizes that no additional determinations have been made under the Leahy Law, contrary to some media reports. He also stated that the idea of taking such a punitive measure has triggered fierce condemnation from Israeli officials, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it “the height of absurdity” and a “moral low.” Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have also raised their concerns about the possible penalty in phone calls with Secretary Blinken.

The situation remains fluid as the State Department continues to evaluate the new information provided by the Israeli government and consult with Israeli officials. The decision on whether to suspend U.S. aid to the Israeli military unit will have significant implications for the U.S.-Israel security partnership and the broader international human rights standards.