Instances of probable gross violations of human rights by Israeli
military and security forces presented to
U.S. Department of State
December 8, 2015
Washington, DC
Concerned about specific, well-documented instances of
probable gross violations of human rights by Israeli military and security forces,
eleven churches and faith-based organizations discussed several case summaries
at a meeting today with the U.S. Department of State. Israel is the largest recipient of U.S.
foreign military assistance.
The groups
said that they were seeking accountability for the observance of human rights
in the use of U.S. military assistance as outlined in the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 as amended and several annual Defense Department appropriations
acts. The provisions in these laws are
often referred to as the “Leahy Laws” or “Leahy amendments” and, in the case of
the Foreign Assistance Act, states “No assistance shall be furnished under this
Act or the Arms Export Control Act to any unit of the security forces of a
foreign country if the Secretary of State has credible information that such unit
has committed a gross violation of human rights.”
The
organizations said that, with the information provided, the Department of State
should designate the military units involved as ineligible for foreign
assistance.
The groups
noted that the cases presented at the meeting are part of a comprehensive
project to seek accountability for documented human rights violations by
Israeli forces and that further cases will be submitted.
In the
context of the documentation they provided the Department of State, the groups
also affirmed that they stand unequivocally opposed to all human rights
violations by any actor -- state or non-state -- as well as any group or individual that is a
party to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The
organizations signing a letter accompanying the documents addressed to Mr. Tom
Malinowski, Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and
Labor, and Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of
Near Eastern Affairs, were American Friends Service Committee; Conference of
Major Superiors of Men; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Global
Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of
Christ; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Mennonite Central Committee U.S.;
Pax Christi International; Pax Christi USA; Presbyterian Church (USA); United
Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries; and United Methodist Church,
General Board of Church and Society.
Contact:
Rev. Susan P. Wilder
Faith Forum on Middle East Policy
(703) 598-2503
