Netanyahu pledges to reject any US sanctions on Israeli army units

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight against any sanctions on the country’s military, following reports that the US plans to cut aid to one unit. The Axios news site revealed that the US would target Israel’s Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.

The move would come under a US ban on aid to foreign units credibly implicated in violations. This potential action has sparked a strong response from Israeli officials, with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant calling on the US to withdraw its intention to sanction Netzah Yehuda.

The Israeli military has defended the battalion, stating that it operates in accordance with international law. However, the US has never suspended aid to an IDF unit before, making this a significant development in the US-Israel relationship.

The potential sanctions stem from allegations of abuses in the West Bank, including the death of an 80-year-old Palestinian-American man, Omar Assad, during a search operation in January 2022. The IDF expressed regret over Assad’s death and took disciplinary action against the soldiers involved.

The decision to potentially cut aid to the Netzah Yehuda battalion would be made under the “Leahy Law,” which prevents US funding from supporting foreign military units implicated in gross human rights violations. This move reflects growing scrutiny on Israel’s military conduct in the occupied territories and could have broader implications for US-Israel relations.