Apparently the allies are slowly losing patience with Israel. After Israeli settlers in the West Bank ended up on a US and EU sanctions list, a battalion of the Israeli army is now being targeted by Washington. The ultra-Orthodox Netzach Yehuda battalion is accused of human rights violations.
US news portal Axios reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the matter, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was expected to announce sanctions against the unit in the coming days.
Israel warns of a “dangerous” precedent
It would be the first time that the US has imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit. According to Axios, these measures would exclude the battalion members from military support or training from the US. The Israeli government responded with outrage to the report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move to impose sanctions as a “peak of absurdity” and a “moral low point.”
Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant also criticized the apparently planned measures: “I expect that the US government will reverse its intention to impose sanctions against the Netzach Yehuda Battalion,” Gallant said in a Defense Ministry statement he warned that the proposed measure sets a “dangerous” precedent.
Incidents occurred before Hamas’ attack
The possible sanctions are reportedly based on incidents that took place in the West Bank before the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. The battalion is associated with right-wing extremism and violence against Palestinians. Israel withdrew the unit from the West Bank in December 2022 and has since deployed it mainly in the north of the country.
It was originally founded in 1999 as a flagship project with 30 soldiers to make it easier for ultra-Orthodox men who were exempt from military service to enter military service. The combat unit is considered a success and now has about a thousand soldiers.
Troops are becoming increasingly radicalized
Although ultra-Orthodox also serve in other army units, the Netzach Yehuda Battalion, on the other hand, caters to the special sensitivities of strictly religious Jews. This gives them extra time for prayers and religious studies. Moreover, their contact with female soldiers is limited.
In addition to young men from the ultra-Orthodox spectrum, over the years the battalion has absorbed more and more members of the national-religious settler movement, who have close ties to the right-wing extremist parties of ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, among others. others. Criticism of the unit has increased recently, including because of alleged attacks by soldiers on Palestinians.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
