Israeli soldiers and police clash with right-wing and far-right demonstrators who broke into the Beit Lid military base in the occupied West Bank on July 29. (Credit: Oren Ziv/AFP)
If this U.S. law is enforced, it would be the first time in the history of U.S.-Israel relations that American military aid to "Force 100," an Israeli army unit responsible for overseeing Gaza detainees and accused of severe human rights abuses, is suspended.What is the Leahy Law?The Leahy Law, introduced in 1997 by former Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, requires that foreign nations adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law in order to receive U.S. security assistance. It bars the U.S. from providing funds to foreign security units if credible information links them to "gross violations of human rights" (GVHR), including torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, or rape. Units involved in such abuses can only regain U.S. aid if the Secretary of State certifies that they are taking effective action to...
If this U.S. law is enforced, it would be the first time in the history of U.S.-Israel relations that American military aid to "Force 100," an Israeli army unit responsible for overseeing Gaza detainees and accused of severe human rights abuses, is suspended.What is the Leahy Law?The Leahy Law, introduced in 1997 by former Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, requires that foreign nations adhere to international human rights and humanitarian law in order to receive U.S. security assistance. It bars the U.S. from providing funds to foreign security units if credible information links them to "gross violations of human rights" (GVHR), including torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, or rape. Units involved in such abuses can only regain U.S. aid if the Secretary of State certifies that they are taking effective action to...