US officials divided over Israel's use of American-supplied weapons: Report
An internal State Department memo has exposed a rift among senior United States officials concerning Israel's use of American-supplied weapons, Reuters reported. Some officials have expressed their doubts to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, questioning the credibility of Israel's assurances that it is using these weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law. However, there are others who continue to support Israel's position.
Why does this story matter?
As per a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden earlier this year, Blinken is required to inform Congress about his stance on Israel's assurances by May 8. By late March, at least seven State Department bureaus had already submitted their input for an initial "options memo" for Blinken, parts of which remain classified. The memo's submissions reportedly provide the most detailed picture of the State Department's disagreements on whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Bureaus express 'serious concern' over Israel's actions in Gaza war
"Some components in the department favored accepting Israel's assurances, some favored rejecting them and some took no position," a US official said. Four bureaus jointly submitted a report expressing "serious concern over non-compliance" with international humanitarian law during Israel's actions in the Gaza war. They deemed Israel's assurances as lacking credibility and reliability, citing eight instances that raised "serious questions" about potential violations. They also pointed out 11 instances where Israeli military actions were said to hinder humanitarian aid arbitrarily.
Stopping US weapons could impair Israel's ability to counter threats
Another submission by the Bureau of Political and Military Affairs warned Blinken that stopping US weapons could impair Israel's ability to counter potential threats beyond its airspace. This would require Washington to reassess "all ongoing and future sales to other countries in the region." The submission did not directly address the credibility of Israel's assurances, focusing instead on the broader geopolitical implications.
US officials found Israel's assurances credible and reliable
On the contrary, the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism and US Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, found Israel's assurances credible and reliable, according to another US official. Meanwhile, the State Department's legal bureau, known as the Office of the Legal Adviser, refrained from taking a definitive stance on the credibility of Israel's assurances. Further deliberations amongst the department's bureaus are taking place ahead of the report's deadline, according to a US official.
