Biden Admin moves toward actually doing something about Israel

For the first time in Israel's history, the U.S. is getting ready to impose sanctions on one of its military units. This effectively means that the U.S. is admitting that human rights abuses are being committed.

A unit of the Israel Defense Forces is facing US sanctions over its treatment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, even as Congress voted for $26bn in new emergency aid to Israel.

According to reports in the Israeli media, US state department officials have confirmed they are preparing to impose sanctions on the IDF’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, which has been accused of serious human rights violations against Palestinians.

The highly significant move, which would be the first time the US government has targeted an IDF unit, prompted immediate anger among Israeli political leaders who vowed to oppose it.

Netanyahu says that imposing sanctions on its military is a "red line". I'm not sure what that means, but if it means more interfering in U.S. elections, Biden is also sanctioning some of those groups as well.

The US Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on two organizations for fundraising on behalf of two violent Israeli extremists in the West Bank.

The two groups – Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich – established crowdfunding campaigns to raise thousands of dollars for Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai, respectively. Both of those men were sanctioned by the US in February under a new executive order targeting those perpetrating violence in the West Bank.

One of those groups sanctioned by the Biden Administration is part of Netanyahu's coalition.

If you are paying attention you'll notice that all of these moves involve the West Bank, not Gaza. Today a new mass grave was uncovered in Khan Yunis, where the bodies were dug up with their hands still bound behind their backs. No word on Biden Administration about that.
This is not the first mass grave like this.

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snoopydawg's picture

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Israeli settlers for a few weeks and then removed them. To think Biden is going to do anything to reign in Israel just after getting $14 billion more funding is some stretch. On top of that he’s selling a billion in weapons to Israel on top of all the others he’s sent.
Biden is fully behind the genocide just like America has been since Israel was created.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg that he can say "no" to Israel, or he will look weak during an election. Netanyahu didn't have to force this position, but he appears not to care.

Of course Biden doesn't want to do anything measurable. I'm sure if he could get away with just posturing, he will. But Netanyahu may have other plans.

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a complete meaningless gesture.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-itamar-ben-gvir-calls-executio...

Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, has called for the execution of Palestinian prisoners to ease overcrowding in the country's jails.

Writing on social media, he welcomed a decision by the Israeli army to build 936 additional prison places for "security prisoners".

"The additional construction will allow the prison service to take in more terrorists, and will bring a partial solution to the prison crisis that exists in the Shabak," he said, referring to the Israeli Prison Service.

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