Republicans push for Americans in IDF to receive US Army benefits
Two US Republican congressmen — Guy Reschenthaler and Max Miller — drafted a bill on May 21st that pushes for American soldiers in the Israeli military to be granted the same benefits as those serving in the US army, The New Arab and agencies reported.
If passed, US soldiers fighting for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will receive the same employment and economic protection rights as those on US soil. These include protections against foreclosure, default judgments in legal cases, repossession of rental property or leases and hiked interest rates.
In February, the IDF revealed that it consisted of at least 23,380 Americans. The bill would also extend to those with dual American-Israeli citizenship.
Additionally, several other nationalities — including French, British, and other Europeans — have also joined the IDF. Though some countries — notably South Africa, who recently took Israel to the International Court of Justice for genocidal acts in Gaza — said they would prosecute any of their nationals who joined the IDF.
In March, the French Foreign Ministry announced that any French-Israeli soldiers implicated in war crimes in Gaza will face legal action.
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“Over 20,000 American citizens are currently defending Israel from Hamas terrorists,” Reschenthaler said in a recent statement, “risking their lives for the betterment of our ally.” He added that this legislation will “ensure we do everything possible to support these heroes” who “[fight] for freedom and [combat] terrorism in the Middle East.”
Both representatives stressed that Israel was Washington’s “closest ally” in the Middle East.
Republicans have notoriously been pro-Israel throughout the country’s war on Gaza, stressing its “right” to self defence.
Washington has come under pressure for its relationship with Israel as the country has moved forward with internationally-condemned action in Gaza — recently heightened when Israel seized the crucial Rafah border crossing shared with Egypt.
College campuses across the US have witnessed pro-Palestine student demonstrations and encampments out of retaliation.
Miller concluded that he is “proud that the legislation extends important protections” to “Americans who chose to risk their lives against terror.”
The New Arab and agencies
