Israel fears US sanctions on army battalion could open the floodgates

Israel fears that such action—if taken in Washington—could then be taken by other Israeli allies, whether against Netzah Yehuda or any other military unit

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP

Israeli soldiers of the Jewish Ultra-Orthodox battalion "Netzah Yehuda" hold morning prayers as they take part in their annual unit training in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near the Syrian border on May 19, 2014.

Israel fears US sanctions on army battalion could open the floodgates

Sherine Younes

last update on 26 Apr 2024

The decision by the United States government to consider sanctioning the Netzah Yehuda battalion within the Israeli army has sent shockwaves across Israeli society.

It follows reports in the Israeli media that the White House had drawn a line against alleged human rights abuses at the hands of the battalion, notably in the occupied West Bank.

Part of Israel’s Kfir Brigade, Netzah Yehuda, was established in 1999 to encourage the enlistment of strictly Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, supported by rabbis and activists.

‘Netzah' is an acronym in Hebrew for ‘Haredi military youth’. Tasked with daily security operations, it was first stationed in the Jordan Valley before moving to the northern West Bank. It then expanded its operations to the Ramallah area and later took on responsibilities in the occupied Golan Heights.

Over time, Netzah Yehuda drew in soldiers from various factions of religious Zionism, including settlers and extremists known as the “hilltop youth”.

Most Haredim continue to focus on Torah study in seminaries rather than serving in the military. Today, about half of the battalion’s members are Haredi.

At the start of 2024, its soldiers were stationed along the Israeli border with Gaza, engaging in intensive training drills in preparation for potential ground offensives.

AFP — An Israeli battle tank is positioned along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on January 17, 2024.

Attracting controversy

The battalion has also been involved in various incidents and clashes within Palestinian territories, targeting individuals linked to attacks against Israeli interests.

Its involvement in several incidents has attracted controversy, including a night-time raid in January 2022.

In the village of Jaljulia, soldiers from the battalion detained Omar As’ad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American, who was later found dead.

An autopsy showed that he had died from a stress-induced heart attack after being gagged, manhandled, and then left handcuffed in an abandoned house.

US authorities demanded that the Israelis investigate. The Israeli army did, but only opted for internal disciplinary action rather than criminal prosecution.

Several months earlier, video footage emerged of Netzah Yehuda soldiers beating Palestinian civilians who were already being restrained on the ground near Ramallah.

Following US criticism, the battalion was relocated out of the occupied West Bank in late 2022 and reassigned to the occupied Golan Heights.

Omar As'ad, a 78-year-old Palestinian-American, died from a stress-induced heart attack after being manhandled by the Netzah Yehuda.

Through its embassy in Israel, the US has engaged human rights activists and Palestinians who know of the battalion's practices, likely as part of preliminary investigations for potential sanctions.

The Leahy Laws, brought by US Senator Patrick Leahy in the late 1990s, prohibit the provision of military assistance to individuals or security forces units that commit gross violations of human rights and have not been brought to justice.

These sanctions, if they transpire, may prevent the battalion from using US-made combat equipment and military supplies, such as rifles, military vehicles, and helmets.

Consequences of action

While any practical effect would be limited, Israel's political and military leaders are far more concerned about the implications of such sanctions, which may set a precedent.

This would be the first time that the White House imposes sanctions on a part of the Israeli military for human rights reasons. Israel fears that such action—if taken in Washington—could then be taken by other Israeli allies, whether against Netzah Yehuda or any other military unit.

In Israel, suggestions of US sanctions against an Israeli battalion have not been welcomed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called them "the peak of absurdity and a moral low".

This is the first time that the White House might impose sanctions on a part of the Israeli military for human rights reasons.

Moreover, Tel Aviv sees this as an intrusion into Israel's sovereignty, pointing out that it has its own judicial and law enforcement systems to prosecute Israeli military personnel when necessary.

Yet this is not the first time that US President Joe Biden's administration has withdrawn privileges to Israelis due to their actions in the occupied West Bank, having already sanctioned several Israeli settlers for attacking Palestinians.

Overall, the US remains staunchly supportive of Israel, coughing up billions of additional dollars in recent days for Israeli defence and engaging in direct military intervention against Iranian drones and missiles earlier this month.

Yet the Biden administration appears to be employing a subtle carrot-and-stick approach.

It is also keeping a watchful eye on extremist Israeli ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose main supporters are settlers.

Whether this approach has any impact on how the Israeli army conducts itself remains to be seen.

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