The State Department is facing a lawsuit alleging that it has created exceptions for Israel to bypass a US law restricting foreign military support over human rights abuses. The lawsuit claims that the State Department has created barriers to enforcement on Israel's behalf and asks the courts to intervene. Former State Department officials and the crafters of the Leahy law are supporting the lawsuit. The law prohibits US military assistance to foreign military units when there is credible evidence of gross human rights abuses. The lawsuit is part of an effort to limit US military support to Israel by Muslim Americans and others.