US President Joe Biden to impose sanctions against Netza Judah, Israeli military unit notorious for violent attacks against Palestinians

Netza Yehudah is an Israeli military unit infamous for violent riots against Palestinians

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Photo: AP, AFP

Washington / Tel Aviv: US to impose sanctions against Netza Judah, an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) unit. American media reported that the unit was under investigation for human rights violations in the West Bank. This is the first time that the United States has imposed sanctions against Israel.

At the same time, Israel came out against the decision of the United States. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move to block the military unit was absurd. Netanyahu said this through X.

“Sanctions should not be imposed against the Israel Defense Forces. For weeks I have been working against the Israeli citizen ban. For this, a discussion was held with senior officials of the American government. The move to besiege a unit in the IDF while our soldiers are fighting against terrorists is absurd and morally deplorable. The government I lead will do everything possible against this,” Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew.

IDF Itamir Ben Gvir, an ultra-conservative right-winger and Israel’s Minister of National Security, said banning the unit would be a serious move. He asked the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, to give all support to the Netza Jewish Battalion. Ben Guire’s response was via X.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the sanctions were part of a planned move to force Israel to recognize the establishment of a Palestinian state. Smotrich said that if a Palestinian state becomes a reality, Israel’s security will disappear.

Netza Judah is an ultra-conservative right wing military unit. It is a unit where soldiers can work while adhering to all Jewish beliefs. There are only men in this unit. They are not allowed to interact with female soldiers. They were given extra time for religious study and prayer.

If the embargo is lifted, Netza Judea soldiers will not be able to train with American forces or participate in a US-funded program. The weapons provided by the US cannot be given to the unit. This is under the US Patrick Leahy Act.

Netza Judah is a unit infamous for violent attacks against Palestinians, including the death of Palestinian-American Omar Assad. 80-year-old Omar Asad was arrested in January 2022 by soldiers from the Netza Jewish unit. He was later found dead. The dead body was hand-glued and blindfolded.