US sanctions fundraisers for extremist West Bank settlers who commit violence against Palestinians

[Israeli]

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IDF says unaware of US plans to sanction unit, insists it follows international law

Gantz, Eisenkot, Lapid join Netanyahu-led criticism of unprecedented planned step against Netzah Yehuda Battalion, linked to abuse in West Bank, though Lapid also blames coalition

The Israeli military said Sunday that it was unaware of plans by the United States to sanction its Netzah Yehuda Battalion, a unit previously involved in a series of controversial and violent incidents in the West Bank.

“If a decision is made on the matter, it will be reviewed,” the IDF said, in its first remarks on the issue.

The IDF’s statement came a day after the Axios website reported that, in an unprecedented step, the Biden administration was to announce sanctions against the Netzah Yehuda Battalion for alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The battalion, which is part of the Kfir Brigade and largely made up of ultra-Orthodox troops, is currently deployed to the Gaza Strip front, following months in the north.

Previously, it was stationed permanently in the West Bank, where it was at the center of several controversies connected to right-wing extremism and violence against Palestinians, notably including the 2022 death of Omar As’ad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American who had been detained, handcuffed, blindfolded, and later abandoned in near-freezing conditions by soldiers of the battalion.

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Netzah Yehuda was created so that ultra-Orthodox and other religious soldiers could serve without feeling they were compromising their beliefs. The soldiers do not interact with female troops to the same extent as other servicemen and are given additional time for prayer and religious study.

Members of the unit have been involved in multiple controversial and violent incidents and have also been convicted in the past of torturing and abusing Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

In a video statement on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to protect the IDF and its soldiers from sanctions and any other such moves. “If somebody thinks they can impose sanctions on any IDF unit, I’ll fight that with all my might, he said.

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Since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, the US has issued three rounds of sanctions against settler individuals for violence against Palestinians, prompting harsh pushback from Finance Minister Smotrich, who has pledged to “fight with all our might” and not “let up” until all Western sanctions are lifted.

The latest round was issued on Friday and included the leader of the far-right group Lehava, Benzi Gopstein, who is a close ally of Ben Gvir.

Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-unaware-of-us-plans-to-sanction-unit-insists-it-follows-international-law/