Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a strong stance against potential sanctions on the country’s military, particularly one unit, amid reports that the US is considering cutting aid.
The proposed sanctions would target Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.
In response to these reports, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared, “I will fight it with all my strength,” emphasizing his opposition to any sanctions on the military. This move comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at upcoming determinations regarding aid to foreign units implicated in violations.
The US, a key ally of Israel, has never previously suspended aid to an IDF unit, making this potential decision significant. The Israeli military has defended Netzah Yehuda, stating that its operations are conducted in accordance with international law. Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged the US to withdraw its intention to sanction the battalion, highlighting the delicate nature of the relationship between the two countries.
The controversy stems from allegations of human rights abuses, including the death of a Palestinian-American man, Omar Assad, during an incident in the West Bank in January 2022. The US called for a thorough investigation into Assad’s death, prompting the IDF to express regret and take internal disciplinary measures.
The discussions around imposing sanctions on the IDF unit fall under the “Leahy Law,” which prohibits US funding or training for foreign military units involved in gross human rights violations. A former US official revealed that previous recommendations for sanctions against Israeli units had faced challenges at the political level.
Netzah Yehuda, established in 1999, is a unique men-only unit composed of ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers. This potential move by the US follows recent sanctions on Israeli activist Ben Zion Gopstein’s organization for engaging in violence in the West Bank.
The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but the tensions between the US and Israel underscore the complexities of diplomacy and international relations.
