The U.S. House of Representatives approved additional military aid for Israel despite growing concerns over human rights violations in the West Bank. The U.S. is expected to sanction the IDF for the first time with Antony Blinken promising "results soon" when questioned at a recent presser in Italy.

Washington

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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill approving additional military aid for Israel, despite ongoing concerns about human rights violations in the West Bank. This development comes amid expectations that the U.S. will, for the first time, impose sanctions on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The anticipated sanctions follow a period of tension between Israel and its most significant ally over reported incidents in the occupied territories, including the death of an eight-year-old Palestinian-American boy, Omar Assad, in 2022. Assad died after being detained by members of the Netza Yehuda battalion, a unit within the IDF.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been reported to be in the final stages of consultations regarding the imposition of these sanctions. This move has been prompted by recommendations from a special State Department panel which, several months ago, proposed that Blinken disqualify various Israeli military and police units from receiving U.S. aid. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly defended the IDF, expressing opposition to the sanctions and vowing to act against them. Netanyahu highlighted the context of ongoing conflict in his defense, arguing that sanctioning IDF units, particularly during their engagement with terrorism, is both absurd and morally questionable.

The Netza Yehuda battalion, specifically mentioned in the context of these potential sanctions, is unique within the IDF. Established to accommodate ultra-Orthodox soldiers, it has attracted a number of young, right-wing settlers who were not accepted into other combat units. Over time, stationed in the West Bank, members of this battalion have been involved in several violent incidents against Palestinian civilians. The U.S. State Department initiated an investigation into the battalion in 2022, focusing on these allegations of violence, which has contributed to the current considerations for sanctions. Antony Blinken, addressing the issue at a press conference in Italy, emphasized the careful and time-consuming nature of the evaluation process but assured that determinations have been made and results would be announced imminently.



U.S. poised to sanction Israeli army over human right violations

emotions between Israel and its strongest ally, the US. On one hand, the House of Representatives has passed a crucial aid bill that will provide billions to Israel. But amid concerns over human rights violations in the West Bank, including the death of eight-year-old Palestinian American Omar Assad in 2022, who died after he was handcuffed and gagged in the custody of the Netza Yehuda battalion, the US is expected to sanction the IDF for the first time. ProPublica reported that a special State Department panel recommended months ago that Antony Blinken disqualify multiple Israeli military and police units from receiving US aid, leading Benjamin Netanyahu to come to the defense of his army. Sanctions must not be imposed on the Israel Defense Forces. In recent weeks, I have been working against the imposition of sanctions on Israeli citizens, including in my conversations with senior American government officials. At a time when our soldiers are fighting the monsters of terror, the intention to impose a sanction on a unit in the IDF is the height of absurdity and a moral low. The government headed by me will act by all means against these moves. Questioned over the matter in Italy, Antony Blinken says he's been consulting with the panel. It's something that takes time, that has to be done very carefully, both in collecting the facts and analyzing them. And that's exactly what we've done. And I think it's fair to say that you'll see results very soon. I've made determinations. You can expect to see them in the days ahead. The Netzer Yehuda Battalion was formed as a special unit for ultra-Orthodox soldiers. Over the years, the unit stationed in the West Bank became a destination for many young right-wing settlers who weren't accepted into other combat units in the IDF. The US State Department started investigating the battalion in 2022, after its soldiers were involved in several incidents of violence against Palestinian citizens, including Assad.

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