It is time for the U.S. to not only cease its support for the CENTCOM-IDF war machine but also to make tangible reparations, starting with the gifting of its newly constructed $1 billion embassy in Lebanon to the Lebanese people.
The United States has long stood at the crossroads of global influence, wielding its power in ways that shape the world’s geopolitical landscape. However, with great power comes great responsibility, a responsibility that the U.S. has too often shirked when it comes to its support of Israel’s military actions against Palestinians and neighboring countries like Lebanon.
The Leahy Law and the Moral Imperative
The United States’ complicity in the ongoing violence in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories cannot be ignored. The Israel Offensive Forces (IOF), backed by U.S. military assistance and CENTCOM, have perpetuated a cycle of violence and human rights violations that contravene international law and morality.
The Leahy Law, which prohibits U.S. military aid to foreign security forces that commit gross human rights violations, should be the guiding principle in U.S. foreign policy. Yet, the U.S. continues to arm the IDF, enabling actions that have been condemned by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.
For years, Israel’s siege of Gaza has resulted in unimaginable suffering, exacerbating humanitarian crises and drawing widespread international condemnation. The U.S.’s role in this is undeniable, as U.S.-made weapons are used to enforce policies that many, including the South African government, have labeled as apartheid and genocide. It is not only a legal imperative but a moral one for the U.S. to halt all military assistance to the IDF until a thorough investigation into these actions is conducted.
Reparations to Lebanon: A Step Toward Accountability
But ceasing support is not enough. The U.S. must also acknowledge its role in destabilizing the region and take steps toward reparations. Lebanon, a country that has borne the brunt of Israel’s military aggressions—often facilitated by U.S. arms—deserves more than just words of sympathy. The new $1 billion U.S. embassy in Beirut stands as a symbol of American influence and power in the region, but it could serve a far greater purpose as a gesture of goodwill and partial reparations to the Lebanese people.
Gifting this embassy to Lebanon would not only be a significant act of diplomacy but also a tangible acknowledgment of the harm caused by U.S.-backed military activities in the region. The embassy could be transformed into a center for peace, education, and cultural exchange, providing a space for rebuilding trust and fostering dialogue between the U.S. and Lebanon.
The Path Forward: Justice, Not Just Words
For too long, the U.S. has used its political and military might to shield israel from accountability, often at the expense of international law and human rights. This approach has not only undermined America’s credibility as a proponent of justice but has also perpetuated a cycle of violence that destabilizes the region.
It is time for the U.S. to realign its foreign policy with its professed values of human rights and justice. This means not only halting military support to the IDF but also actively engaging in reparative actions. By giving Lebanon its new embassy, the U.S. can begin to repair the damage done and take a meaningful step toward restoring peace and stability in the Middle East.
The United States must rise to the occasion and demonstrate that it is committed to a future where its influence is used to uphold, rather than undermine, the principles of justice and human dignity. The time for action is now.
