Tue Dec 17 17:00:25 UTC 2024: **US Lawsuit Alleges Biden Administration Violates Leahy Law, Enabling Israeli Human Rights Abuses**
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five Palestinians, including residents of Gaza, the West Bank, and the United States, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the U.S. government, alleging that the State Department’s failure to fully implement the Leahy Law facilitates Israeli human rights abuses. The Leahy Law prohibits U.S. aid to foreign military units implicated in gross human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture.
The lawsuit contends that the State Department’s inaction, particularly in the wake of the October 2023 Gaza War, which resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, constitutes a violation of U.S. law. Plaintiffs cite the Israeli military’s use of U.S.-supplied weapons in numerous attacks, including indiscriminate strikes killing civilians. The plaintiffs argue that continued U.S. military assistance, totaling at least $3.8 billion annually plus an additional $17.9 billion since the start of the war according to Brown University researchers, enables these abuses.
Lead plaintiff, identified as “Amal Gaza,” a Gaza teacher, described the devastating impact of the conflict on her family and community, highlighting the loss of 20 family members. Another plaintiff, Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American, expressed concern for his relatives in Gaza, who have been repeatedly displaced and live in fear of attacks.
The State Department declined to comment on the pending litigation. However, the lawsuit highlights the existence of the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum (ILVF), a process critics claim is overly lenient towards Israel, delaying and obstructing the application of the Leahy Law. Former State Department official Charles Blaha contends that the ILVF applies a unique, slower process to Israel than to other countries, often deeming evidence insufficient to withhold aid. This has resulted in no Israeli units being deemed ineligible for aid since the ILVF’s inception.
The lawsuit, filed under the Administrative Procedure Act, seeks a court order compelling the State Department to comply with the Leahy Law, provide a list of ineligible Israeli military units, and halt aid to units implicated in human rights violations. The plaintiffs argue this is not a matter of foreign policy, but rather a demand for the administration to uphold existing U.S. law. The outcome of this case remains to be seen, but it could significantly impact the U.S.-Israel relationship and the future of military aid to Israel.
First Piper 