Netanyahu vows to reject any US sanctions on the military

2024-04-22 07:49:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Netanyahu vows to reject any US sanctions on the military

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to reject any sanctions on his military after reports the US plans to cut aid to one unit.

"I will fight it with all my strength", said the Prime Minister on Sunday.

Earlier, the Axios news site said the US would target Israel's Netzah Yehuda battalion over alleged human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.

The BBC understands that any move would come under a US ban on aid to foreign entities credibly implicated in the breach.

When asked last week about reports that US military aid to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units may be cut over allegations of human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "I have made determinations; we can expect to see them in the next few days."

Israel's main ally Washington has never suspended aid to an IDF unit.

The Israeli military said Netzah Yehuda was acting in accordance with international law.

"Following the publications regarding the sanctions against the battalion, the IDF is not aware of the matter," the army was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. "The IDF works and will continue to work to investigate any unusual events in a practical manner and according to the law."

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called on the US to withdraw its intention to sanction Netzah Yehuda, saying the world was watching ties between the US and Israel more closely than ever.

On Saturday, Axios cited three US sources with knowledge of the matter as saying Mr Blinken was expected to announce action against Netzah Yehuda within days.

He said the move would be over alleged abuses in the West Bank, including an incident in which a Palestinian-American man, 80-year-old Omar Assad, died after being tied up and captured by Israeli soldiers during a search in the West Bank. in January 2022.

At the time, the US called for a "full criminal investigation and full accountability" in the case./ CNA