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Congress & the Middle East: Investigation Into Alleged Human Rights Violations by the Israeli and Egyptian Militaries

(February 17, 2016)

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and 10 other members of the U.S. House delivered a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on February 17, 2016, asking that the government investigate claims of “gross violations of human rights,” allegedly perpetrated by the Israeli and Egyptian militaries. The letter cites examples of the “extrajudicial killings” by Israel of Fadi Aloun, Sa’ad al-Atrash, Hadeel Hashlamoun and Mutaw Awisat, all of whom Israel claims were killed in confrontations with police after violently attacking Israeli citizens.

This letter was sent on February 17, 2016, but was not published until March 30, 2016. In a statement responding to the letter, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu unnequivocally stated “the IDF and security forces are not murderers. IDF soldiers and Israeli police protect with their bodies, in a moral manner.” To read the letter by Senator Patrick Leahy, please click here.


Source: “Netanyahu pans US senator's call to probe 'extrajudicial killings,'” Times of Israel, (March 31, 2016);
U.S. Congress