EFE
United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, reported that his department has an open investigation into alleged human rights violations by Israel. He also denied having double standards when investigating his ally.
The head of US diplomacy expressed this during a press conference to present the State Department's annual report on the situation of human rights worldwide.
“We are analyzing reports of incidents that came to our attention and we have our procedures, particularly if US weapons are involved,” he said.
Blinken said the investigation is “ongoing” and stressed the importance of the State Department taking the time necessary to do a correct analysis and reach a conclusion.
“When we have collected the facts and are able to do the analysis, we will release our findings,” he explained.
The Secretary of State also denied that he has a “double standard” when it comes to investigating an ally such as Israel and promised that “the same standard applies to everyone and that this does not change if the country in question is an adversary or a friend".
In the coming days, Blinken is expected to announce sanctions against the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion for possible human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.
US law prohibits providing foreign aid to military units responsible for human rights violations.
The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Saturday called the possibility of Joe Biden's Administration making such a decision “absurd.”
Blinken spoke by phone on Sunday about this issue with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz.
