Tel Aviv:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced a reported move by the US to impose sanctions on the Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
According to reports, the sanctions are due to alleged human rights abuses committed against Palestinians in the West Bank by the battalion's soldiers. There are reports that the Biden administration will blacklist the battalion considered elite by the IDF.
“The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) should not be punished. Our soldiers are fighting against terrorist monsters, and the intention to impose sanctions on an IDF unit is the height of absurdity and a moral low (the lowest point),” Netanyahu said in his speech. a statement on Saturday evening.
“The government of Israel that I lead will oppose these steps by all means necessary,” he said.
Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich also criticized the US action. “Imposing sanctions on our soldiers is a red line,” Mr. Gvir said, adding that the step was extremely serious and “The members of the Netzah Yehuda must be protected.”
He also called on Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who is considered a hawk in the Israeli government, not to submit to the American diktat.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich strongly opposed US plans to impose sanctions on Netzah Yehuda in a statement on the social media platform X. “The move to sanction the IDF battalion while Israel is fighting for its existence is complete madness. “This is part of a planned move to force the State of Israel to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state and give up Israel's security,” he said.