ALBAWABA - Al Jazeera reports that a US non-profit has funded an Israeli army unit suspected of human rights abuses in Palestine. The Intercept reported on "Friends of Nahal Haredi," which sent the Israeli brigade large sums.
The Intercept found that senior group member Steven Rosenthal oversaw the gifts. Rosenthal gave to AIPAC, a major lobbying organization that staunchly supports Israel in the US.
The Intercept found that Rosenthal, a Republican, has donated heavily to AIPAC-affiliated political action organizations. This shows the complex financial and political ties between the US and Israel.
Al Jazeera reports on the Israeli unit "Netzah Yehuda," which has committed human rights crimes in the West Bank. The 2022 murder of elderly Palestinian-American Omar As'ad raises questions about responsibility and justice.
The Intercept stated that the US State Department has not addressed As'ad's killing despite requests for action. This lack of accountability highlights US-Israel ties' complexity and the difficulty of prosecuting human rights offenders.
The Intercept's dossier also illuminates the Biden administration's Leahy Laws sanctions considerations for the Israeli army. The US government cannot pay or assist security forces who commit credible human rights crimes under these statutes.
According to The Intercept and Al Jazeera, the State Department caved to Israeli pressure and did not approve the battalion. This action calls into doubt the US government's foreign policy commitment to human rights.
These disclosures have prompted US voices to advocate for closer examination of AIPAC and its foreign policy impact. Critics say such lobbying undermines attempts to hold Israel responsible for its conduct in the occupied territories, emphasizing the necessity for US-Israel openness and accountability.
