US accused of hypocrisy for supporting sanctions against Russia but not Israel

The US and some of its European allies are facing accusations of double standards for supporting sanctions and international war crimes investigations against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine while blocking them over Israeli military actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.

But pro-Israel groups in the US have dismissed the allegations by accusing critics of exploiting Ukrainian suffering to draw false parallels.

Palestinian officials and UN special rapporteurs on the occupied territories have also pressed for sanctions over Israeli land seizures in the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza and the large scale killing of Palestinian civilians.

While pressing for action against Russia, however, the US and other governments have resisted similar measures against Israel.

Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, contrasted American support for sanctions against Russia with attempts in Congress to outlaw boycotts in the US of Israel or its settlements in the Palestinian territories.

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, compared the portrayal of Ukrainians throwing petrol bombs as heroic defenders of their territory to Palestinians characterised as terrorists or militants for resisting occupation and land seizures by Israel.

The US is not alone in facing accusations of hypocrisy. The UK and Canada led calls for the international criminal court to investigate Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Last year, the two countries said the ICC should drop an investigation of Israel in part on the grounds that Palestine is not a sovereign country, although it is recognised as a state by the UN.

In Britain, the Labour MP Julie Elliott told parliament that there was a double standard when it comes to standing up for Palestinians.

Critics have also accused international footballing bodies of contradictory policies.

Uefa fined the Scottish Premier League team Celtic after its fans flew Palestinian flags at international games, saying that they were political symbols. Ukrainian flags have been widely flown at recent matches with the approval of footballing authorities.