NETANYAHU VOWS TO FIGHT U.S. SANCTIONS
Washington plans to impose sanctions on Israel military unit for ‘rights violation’
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he will fight against sanctions being imposed on any Israeli military unit for alleged rights violations, after media reports said Washington was planning such a step.
Axios news site on Saturday reported that Washington was planning to impose sanctions on Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, which has operated in the occupied West Bank, though the Israeli military said it was not aware of any such measures.
On Friday, the United States announced a series of sanctions linked to Israeli settlers in the West Bank, in the latest sign of growing US frustration with the policies of Netanyahu, whose coalition government relies on settler parties.
“If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces), I will fight it with all my strength,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a centrist former armed forces chief, said on Sunday that he spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and asked him to reconsider the matter.
The State Department said Blinken spoke with Gantz and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant about Israel’s security, efforts to ensure the conflict in Gaza does not spread and the need for an immediate ceasefire, and increased flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. The US statements did not mention sanctions.
Gantz said sanctions would be a mistake because they would harm Israel’s legitimacy during a time of war and that they were unjustified because Israel has an independent justice system and a military that keeps international law.
Blinken on Friday said he had made “determinations” regarding accusations that Israel violated a set of US laws that prohibit providing military assistance to
people or security force units that commit gross violations of human rights.
Earlier last week, the Pro Publica investigative news organisation reported that a State Department panel known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum had recommended months ago to Blinken that multiple Israeli military and police units be disqualified from receiving US aid, after allegations of human rights violati
The incidents that were the subject of allegations took place in the West Bank and occurred before Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza began on Oct 7, the outlet said.
Before the Gaza war, violence
had been on the rise in the West Bank, land that the Palestinians seek for a state, and it has risen since with Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and settler rampages in Palestinian villages.
The Israeli military said the Netzah Yehuda battalion is an active combat unit that operates according to international law.
“Following publications about sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the issue. If a decision is made on the matter it will be reviewed.
“The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual event in a practical manner and according to law.”