Leahy asked State Dept. to investigate Israeli human rights "violations"

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and 10 House members have asked the Obama administration to investigate claims that the Israeli and Egyptian security forces have committed “gross violations of human rights” — allegations that infuriated Israel's leader, but, if proven true, could affect U.S. military aid to the countries. Leahy’s signature is particularly noteworthy because his name is on a law that conditions U.S. military aid to countries on whether their security forces are committing abuses. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a sharp response to the letter Wednesday, defending his security forces, whom he said protect the innocent from "bloodthirsty terrorists who come to murder them."