Israel

Netanyahu Vows to Reject US Sanctions on Army Units

APR 22 2024·Updated APR 23 2024

Story

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The Facts

The US is considering sanctioning additional Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. Pres. Joe Biden is reportedly expected to sanction police forces as well as the Netzah Yehuda Battalion this week.
www.timesofisrael.com
Soldiers in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which was created in 1999 and consists of ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, have been convicted of electrocuting Palestinians and allowing a Palestinian-American to die in their custody in 2022.
wsj.com
Sanctions against Netzah Yehuda, who had been ordered to leave the West Bank following the man's death but didn't, will prohibit US funds from being used to buy weapons for the unit. Investigations into IDF misconduct in Gaza are also expected to open.
www.timesofisrael.com
In response, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's opposition leader criticized the proposal, describing it as "the height of absurdity" and a "mistake," respectively.
wapo
While the sanctions come under the Leahy law, which prohibits funding rights abusers with American dollars, Netanyahu has vowed to "fight it with all [his] strength." The US House, however, has still approved an aid package that would give $26.4B to Israel.
guardian
Elsewhere in the conflict, the Palestinian civil defense responders reportedly discovered 180 bodies at a mass grave inside the Nasser Medical Complex in the city of Khan Younis.
Al Jazeera

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The Spin

Pro-Israel narrative

Israel itself has acknowledged the past wrongdoings of individual Netzah Yehuda soldiers, but that doesn't mean the entire unit should be smeared. By doing this, Washington is not only painting this Battalion with a broad brush, but also the entire IDF. Israel should be allowed to discipline soldiers without its entire reputation being defamed.

Israel Hayom

Pro-establishment narrative

The Netzah Yehuda Battalion has a long and recorded history of egregious human rights violations, so it's no surprise that sanctions are finally being placed against it. There is even video footage of these soldiers abusing Palestinian detainees, which is why the US government couldn't possibly turn a blind eye to these human rights violations.

Al Jazeera