U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is promoting a bill to suspend U.S. assistance to three elite Israel Defense Forces units, alleging they are involved in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Leahy, a Democrat and senior member of the U.S. Senate, wants assistance withheld from the Israel Navy's Shayetet 13 unit, the undercover Duvdevan unit and the Israel Air Force's Shaldag unit.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a long-time friend of Leahy's, met with him in Washington two weeks ago to try to persuade him to withdraw the initiative.
According to a senior Israeli official in Jerusalem, Leahy began promoting the legislation in recent months after he was approached by voters in his home state of Vermont.
A few months ago, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters staged a rally across from Leahy's office, demanding that he denounce the killing by Shayetet 13 commandos of nine Turkish activists who were part of the flotilla to Gaza last May.
Leahy, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee's sub-committee on foreign operations, was the principle sponsor of a 1997 bill prohibiting the United States from providing military assistance or funding to foreign military units suspected of human rights abuses or war crimes. The law also stipulates that the U.S. Defense Department screen foreign officers and soldiers who come to the United States for training for this purpose.
Leahy wants the new clause to become a part of the U.S. foreign assistance legislation for 2012, placing restrictions on military assistance to Israel, particularly to those three units.
Leahy says these units are responsible for harming innocent Palestinian civilians and that no system of investigation is in place to ensure that their members are not committing human rights violations. According to Leahy's proposal, U.S. military assistance to Israel would be subject to the same restrictions that apply to countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Jordan.
The senior Israeli official said that the Israeli Embassy in Washington had been trying unsuccessfully now for some months to persuade Leahy to back down from the initiative.
Two weeks ago, during Barak's visit to Washington, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, asked Barak to meet with Leahy to dissuade him from promoting the legislation.
Leahy, who is on the Democratic Party's left flank, has for many years promoted human rights issues globally. He has been sharply critical of Israel in recent years, especially following Operation Cast Lead in late 2008.
However, he also signed Congressional resolutions supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
Leahy, 71, has served in the Senate for 35 years. He was a personal friend of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and has known Ehud Barak since the latter was IDF chief of staff.
Barak, who met with Leahy privately, was quoted by the senior Israeli official as telling the senator: "The difference between Israel and terror groups or other countries in the Middle East is that we give an accounting and there is monitoring."
Barak also said the IDF had a strict judiciary with broader powers than the judiciary in the United States armed forces.
Barak was also quoted as telling Leahy that the IDF military advocate general is not subservient to the military command, but rather to the attorney general, and has complete autonomy.
"If a Palestinian is injured, he can approach the High Court of Justice," Barak said. "The investigations undergo judicial review that is independent of commanders. There are dozens of hearings every year that are based on Palestinians' complaints against soldiers. They reach the highest and most independent authorities," he said.
Leahy listened to Barak, but he did not say whether he would withdraw his initiative.
Wow_FactorLondon, Greater London, England UK3,698 posts
In my opinion the Ha'aretz newspaper is a schmattah and only fit for lining pet rabbit hutches, and if you have even seen the floor of a pet rabbit's hutch you will know my views on that rag of a paper.
Leahy Says Report on Cutting Funds to Israel Inaccurate
Sen. Leahy says a Haaretz report that a bill to halt aid to elite IDF units is “full of inaccuracies” and “is not aimed at Israel.”
Published: 17/08/11, 8:56 AM
IHH terror activists preparingto attack IDF
Israel news photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office
Sen. Patrick Leahy said Tuesday a Haaretz report that his proposed bill is aimed at halting aid to elite IDF units is “full of inaccuracies” and that the bill “is not aimed at Israel.”
A law passed in 1997 and co-sponsored by Sen. Leahy prohibits U.S. aid to foreign military units suspected of violating human rights. Sen. Leahy recently proposed that the annual foreign aid bill specifically state the restrictions in the previous law.
The Israeli newspaper, which describes itself as Zionist but generally tries to show Israel under the Netanyahu government in a negative light, reported that Sen. Leahy “is promoting a bill to suspend U.S. assistance to three elite Israel Defense Forces units, alleging they are involved in human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.”
Sen. Leahy’s office told Ben Smith of Politico, “Senator Leahy does not discuss private conversations he has had for decades with Israeli leaders. However, the Haaretz article contains significant inaccuracies. He has not proposed legislation to withhold U.S. aid to units of the Israel Defense Forces.”
The proposed amendment is not aimed at Israel specifically but could affect the IDF if human rights violations are suspected.
Pro-Arab groups earlier this year protested across from the senator’s office, demanding that he condemn Israel’s Navy commandos for killing nine IHH terror activists on the Mavi Marmara flotilla ship in May 2010.
Videos and subsequent investigations clearly show that the band from the IHH savagely assaulted the commandos as they boarded the ship, virtually unarmed, after the captain refused orders to redirect the vessel away from Hamas-controlled Gaza.
AlbertaghostCultural Wasteland, Alberta Canada5,914 posts
"The nonbinding, symbolic measure, passed in Brattleboro and Marlboro in a state known for taking liberal positions on national issues, instructs town police to "extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them."
Vermont, home to maple syrup and picture-postcard views, is known for its liberal politics."
Albertaghost: "The nonbinding, symbolic measure, passed in Brattleboro and Marlboro in a state known for taking liberal positions on national issues, instructs town police to "extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them."
Vermont, home to maple syrup and picture-postcard views, is known for its liberal politics."
AlbertaghostCultural Wasteland, Alberta Canada5,914 posts
Cut off aid to Israel so they cut off aid to the US in Haifa and instead, give it to Russia or China to make up the shortfall. The increased aircraft carriers required will sure send defense spending in the US through the roof!
Albertaghost: Cut off aid to Israel so they cut off aid to the US in Haifa and instead, give it to Russia or China to make up the shortfall. The increased aircraft carriers required will sure send defense spending in the US through the roof!
Wow_FactorLondon, Greater London, England UK3,698 posts
Albertaghost: Cut off aid to Israel so they cut off aid to the US in Haifa and instead, give it to Russia or China to make up the shortfall. The increased aircraft carriers required will sure send defense spending in the US through the roof!
But, sure showed them.
And it would probably affect the chance of world peace???
AlbertaghostCultural Wasteland, Alberta Canada5,914 posts
Wow_Factor: And it would probably affect the chance of world peace???
Well put it this way - certainly would place a lot of pressure between nuclear powers for sure. Not to mention how Israel's GAFF will plummet in dealing with Palestinians if they have zero incentive to perform up to US left wing humanitarian standards.
In short, they'll make up the shortfall at the cost of a half trillion to the US and, won't have to accede to one US or international demand for concessions.
Wow_FactorLondon, Greater London, England UK3,698 posts
Albertaghost: Well put it this way - certainly would place a lot of pressure between nuclear powers for sure. Not to mention how Israel's GAFF will plummet in dealing with Palestinians if they have zero incentive to perform up to US left wing humanitarian standards.
In short, they'll make up the shortfall at the cost of a half trillion to the US and, won't have to accede to one US or international demand for concessions.
Mission Unaccomplished!
Exactly! Which is why those that spout off about US and other counties' aid to Israel should be stopped should heed the consequences of what would happen if that occurred.
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Leahy, a Democrat and senior member of the U.S. Senate, wants assistance withheld from the Israel Navy's Shayetet 13 unit, the undercover Duvdevan unit and the Israel Air Force's Shaldag unit.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a long-time friend of Leahy's, met with him in Washington two weeks ago to try to persuade him to withdraw the initiative.
According to a senior Israeli official in Jerusalem, Leahy began promoting the legislation in recent months after he was approached by voters in his home state of Vermont.
A few months ago, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters staged a rally across from Leahy's office, demanding that he denounce the killing by Shayetet 13 commandos of nine Turkish activists who were part of the flotilla to Gaza last May.
Leahy, who heads the Senate Appropriations Committee's sub-committee on foreign operations, was the principle sponsor of a 1997 bill prohibiting the United States from providing military assistance or funding to foreign military units suspected of human rights abuses or war crimes. The law also stipulates that the U.S. Defense Department screen foreign officers and soldiers who come to the United States for training for this purpose.
Leahy wants the new clause to become a part of the U.S. foreign assistance legislation for 2012, placing restrictions on military assistance to Israel, particularly to those three units.
Leahy says these units are responsible for harming innocent Palestinian civilians and that no system of investigation is in place to ensure that their members are not committing human rights violations. According to Leahy's proposal, U.S. military assistance to Israel would be subject to the same restrictions that apply to countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Jordan.
The senior Israeli official said that the Israeli Embassy in Washington had been trying unsuccessfully now for some months to persuade Leahy to back down from the initiative.
Two weeks ago, during Barak's visit to Washington, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, asked Barak to meet with Leahy to dissuade him from promoting the legislation.
Leahy, who is on the Democratic Party's left flank, has for many years promoted human rights issues globally. He has been sharply critical of Israel in recent years, especially following Operation Cast Lead in late 2008.
However, he also signed Congressional resolutions supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
Leahy, 71, has served in the Senate for 35 years. He was a personal friend of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and has known Ehud Barak since the latter was IDF chief of staff.
Barak, who met with Leahy privately, was quoted by the senior Israeli official as telling the senator: "The difference between Israel and terror groups or other countries in the Middle East is that we give an accounting and there is monitoring."
Barak also said the IDF had a strict judiciary with broader powers than the judiciary in the United States armed forces.
Barak was also quoted as telling Leahy that the IDF military advocate general is not subservient to the military command, but rather to the attorney general, and has complete autonomy.
"If a Palestinian is injured, he can approach the High Court of Justice," Barak said. "The investigations undergo judicial review that is independent of commanders. There are dozens of hearings every year that are based on Palestinians' complaints against soldiers. They reach the highest and most independent authorities," he said.
Leahy listened to Barak, but he did not say whether he would withdraw his initiative.