Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared his opposition to any potential sanctions placed on Israeli military units due to alleged human rights violations.
This comes after an American media outlet, reported that the US government was considering imposing such sanctions on Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, which has been active in the occupied West Bank. However, the Israeli military has stated that they are unaware of any planned sanctions.
The Israeli media has revealed that the targeted unit is Netzah Yehuda, an infantry battalion established about 25 years ago to integrate ultra-Orthodox Jewish males into the military.
Recently, on Friday, the US introduced a new set of sanctions related to Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, which is indicative of the increasing US discontent with Netanyahu’s policies. His coalition government depends on support from settler parties. In response, Netanyahu declared in a Sunday statement, “If anyone believes they can impose sanctions on a unit of the [Israeli army], I will fight it with all my strength.”
Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz expressed his concerns in a statement on Sunday, revealing that he had a conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Gantz requested Blinken to reconsider the situation, as he believes imposing sanctions would be an error, potentially damaging Israel’s credibility during wartime.
In response, Blinken mentioned on Friday that he had made “determinations” concerning allegations that Israel breached a specific set of US laws. These laws prohibit offering military assistance to individuals or security force units involved in severe human rights violations.
Blinken, without disclosing specifics, mentioned that his department is currently investigating a matter based on a law which forbids the provision of military aid to foreign security forces involved in human rights abuses. He further elaborated, “It’s reasonable to anticipate the outcome shortly. I have made my assessments; you will witness them unfold in the coming days.”
Killing ‘for no real reason’
Independently, Israeli Labour Party leader Merav Michaeli advocated for the dissolution of the Netzah Yehuda army unit on Sunday, asserting that they have been killing Palestinians without justification. She stated, “The sanctions represent an acknowledgment of the existing situation and an understanding that Israel’s conduct in the territories cannot persist.”
Michaeli continued, “The aggressive and corrupt behavior of the Netzah Yehuda battalion and those associated with it has been well-known for years, yet no action has been taken to halt it.” Recently, ProPublica, an investigative news organisation, disclosed that a special US Department of State panel, known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum, had suggested to Secretary of State Blinken several months ago that numerous Israeli military and police units should be barred from receiving US aid due to allegations of human rights violations.
The incidents in question predominantly occurred in the occupied West Bank, with most taking place prior to the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7th. The outlet mentioned that violence in the West Bank had already escalated before the Gaza war, and it has increased since then, marked by frequent Israeli military operations, rampages by Israeli settlers in Palestinian villages, and Palestinian assaults on Israeli forces and settlers.
In response, the Israeli military characterized the Netzah Yehuda battalion as an active combat unit that adheres to the principles of international law. The Israeli army also claimed, “After publications about sanctions against the battalion, we were not aware of the issue.”
