The Biden administration is contemplating sanctions for alleged “human rights violations” against not one but several Israeli military and police units, two U.S. sources told The Times of Israel.
The news comes as reports indicate that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering enforcing the Leahey Amendment against the IDF’s Netzah Yehuda Battalion, an infantry formation consisting of mostly Haredi Jews that is attached to the Kfir Brigade.
The 1997 law prohibits U.S. funding for any security, military, or police agency that is determined to not be in compliance with the State Department’s humanitarian standards.
Affected organizations are also forbidden from attending training exercises with the U.S. armed forces.
The sources told the newspaper that they believe that the individuals responsible for making the decision on determining the law’s violations are currently investigating the conduct of IDF soldiers in Gaza.
The Times reported that one of the sources predicted that the expanding of restrictions to additional detachments would encourage other Western countries to follow the recommendations, resulting in multilateral constraints placed on the Jewish state’s fighting ability.
One of the officials conceded that these actions may be symbolic in nature because any impeded unit could still be financially supported by money not related to U.S. defense aid.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would “fight it with all my strength" if any country attempted to sanction any of Israel’s military personnel.
Related Story: Israeli Defense Chiefs Weary of Possible U.S. Sanctions on IDF Unit
