Nine Americans, many of them of Palestinian background, have died over the last few years in encounters with Israeli soldiers or settlers. Often during military incursions or settler violence, these killings range from airstrikes in Lebanon to gunshots in the West Bank. Every instance has followed a familiar pattern, expressions of worry from U.S. officials, hazy assurances of accountability from Israel, and little in terms of real justice—notwithstanding their weight.
Among the dead was Kamel Jawad, hit in Lebanon during an Israeli airstrike. At first, U.S. officials rejected his citizenship; they later changed their position just after media criticism. In another incident, 14-year-old Amer Rabee was shot in the West Bank. Israel tagged him as a threat, and U.S. officials generally accepted that story without question. Likewise, shot while driving, 17-year-old Mohammad Khdour’s promised inquiry by Israel is still unresolved.
Every time, the U.S. State Department released statements pleading for open investigations. Still, studies frequently yielded inconclusive or slow results. Having vowed to look into such cases independently, the Department of Justice has mostly remained silent. Instead, its attention has been on issues involving Hamas, which have drawn criticism for erratic criteria.
Lawmakers such as Senators Chris Van Hollen and Bernie Sanders have called for more specific action, including using the Leahy Law, which stops aid to foreign military units accused of human rights violations. Implementing, though, has been difficult.
Israel has a mediocre track record on internal accountability. Rights organizations claim that fewer than 1% of complaints against Israeli forces result in charges, and settler violence cases are seldom pursued.
Although officials mourn the deaths openly, systematic inactivity speaks louder. Calls for justice have been overshadowed by geopolitical caution. The U.S. has stayed away from direct confrontation or autonomous investigation, therefore depriving families of closure and questioning the actual worth assigned to American lives overseas, despite cross-party dissatisfaction and public outcry.
