Israel’s Netzah Yehuda Battalion (Hilel Meir/Jerusalem Post)

I joined India’s WION on Sunday to evaluate the state of relations between the Biden Administration and Israel, amid the Israeli open-ended war in Gaza and violence in the West Bank.

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I begin with the news that the Administration has sanctioned an Israel Defense Forces unit, Netzah Yehuda, over its past abuses of Palestinians — including the killing of an elderly Palestinian-American dual national — in the West Bank.

I explain that, while the measure has grabbed headlines, it is largely a token slap on Israel’s wrist. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected his Department’s recommendations for sanctions on other IDF units; the House just passed a bill for almost $20 billion in further military aid to Israel; and there is no sign that the Administration is going to limit military assistance or support an unconditional ceasefire.

What could change this? Possibly a decision by the Israeli War Cabinet for a ground assault on Rafah, where up to 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are sheltering.

But only possibly. For now, Israel still has space to operate without a serious American step in response.