Netanyahu vows to reject US sanctions on Israel army unit

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reject any sanctions on the country’s military, after reports that the US plans to cut aid to one unit.

“I will fight it with all my strength. If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF, I will fight it,” the prime minister said on Sunday.

Earlier, there were reports that the US would target Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.

When asked last week about reports that US military aid to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units could be cut over allegations of human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “I’ve made determinations; you can expect to see them in the days ahead”.

However, Washington – Israel’s main ally – has never suspended aid to an IDF unit before.

The Israeli military said Netzah Yehuda was operating in accordance with international law.

“Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue. The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law,” the military said.

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on the US to withdraw its intention to sanction Netzah Yehuda, saying the world was watching the ties between the US and Israel more closely than ever.

“Any attempt to criticise an entire unit casts a heavy shadow on the actions of the IDF,” a statement from Gallant read, adding “this is not the right path for partners and friends”.

Any decision to bar an IDF unit from US military assistance would be made under the “Leahy Law”, sponsored in 1997 by then-Senator Patrick Leahy. It prevents US funding or training from being used for foreign military units credibly implicated in gross human rights violations.

Formed in 1999, Netzah Yehuda is a special men-only unit where ultra-Orthodox Jews serve.

Earlier this week, the State Department imposed sanctions on Israeli far-right activist Ben Zion Gopstein. It said his organisation, Lehava, had “engaged in destabilising violence affecting the West Bank“.

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