Melding om nye sanksjoner på gang fra USA mot ekstremister i Israel.
Denne gang er det noe helt spesielt som angis:
En hel bataljon av IDF kan bi sanksjonert , ifølge Haaretz 20.april 2024, (HELE artikkelen i Haaretz nederst under Kilde):
"U.S. Set to Sanction ultra-Orthodox Israeli Army Battalion Based in the West Bank
If the decision is implemented, it will be the first time that the U.S. government takes such a step towards a specific unit in the IDF. Israeli PM Netanyahu said that the intention to impose sanctions on and IDF unit is 'the height of absurdity and a moral low'Det spesielle er Netanyahu sin kommentar:
"Dette er høyden av absurditet og et moralsk lavpunkt"
Spørsmålet er vel om USA ikke burde ajourføre ICC om sine begrunnelser for å sanksjonere en av IDFs bataljoner på Vestbredden.
Skudeneshavn 21. april 2024
Jan Marton Jensen
På Twitter:
21. april 2024
https://twitter.com/janmarton/status/1782139901640581618
23. april 2024
https://twitter.com/janmarton/status/1782780064028856713
Ny Info:
23. april 2024
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-22/ty-article/.premium/instead-of-sanctioning-a-rogue-battalion-the-u-s-should-focus-on-netanyahus-government/0000018f-0507-d6a0-a9ef-c59f68d90000
HELE artikkelen i Haaretz 20. april 2024:
U.S. Set to Sanction ultra-Orthodox Israeli Army Battalion Based in the West Bank
If
the decision is implemented, it will be the first time that the U.S.
government takes such a step towards a specific unit in the IDF. Israeli
PM Netanyahu said that the intention to impose sanctions on and IDF
unit is 'the height of absurdity and a moral low'
 |
Netzah Yehuda base, in 2022.Credit: Emil Salman |
The U.S. is expected to impose sanctions on the IDF's ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion because of its involvement in human rights violations in the West Bank, and is considering measures against other military and police units in Israel, sources in the Biden administration involved in the discussions told Haaretz.
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "the intention to impose
sanctions on an IDF unit is the height of absurdity and a moral low,"
and added that he will take all necessary action to oppose the move.
If the decision is implemented, it will be the first time that the U.S. government takes such a step towards a specific unit in the IDF. The expected sanctions are not related to the events of the war in Gaza, but to the incidents in which the soldiers of the battalion harmed Palestinian civilians even before October 7.
On
Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he will reveal his
determinations on whether Israeli military or police units stand in
violation of the so-called "Leahy Law," which prohibits military
assistance to foreign security forces that violate human rights.
The meaning of the decision, which the Walla News website reported on Saturday, is that U.S. military equipment sold to Israel will not be able to reach the battalion, or any other unit on which similar sanctions will be imposed. In addition, the commanders and soldiers of the battalion will not be able to take part in joint training with the U.S. Army.
"This
action has been under debate for some time now, and is not related
directly to events in Gaza - but it has been influenced by extremist
statements made by senior Israeli politicians in recent months", said a
source involved in the discussions over this policy.
A recent ProPublica report revealed that a State Department panel recommended Blinken disqualify multiple Israeli military and police units from receiving U.S. aid after reviewing specific allegations. Most of the incidents in question occurred prior to October 7.
In 2022, Haaretz reported that the United States began to investigate in depth the conduct of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which consists mainly of soldiers from ultra-Orthodox society.
Amos Harel reported at the time that the employees of the American Embassy in Israel collected reports by Israeli media and human rights organizations, and have also been conducting interviews with Palestinians and Israelis regarding the actions of the Netzah Yehuda battalion.
The American focus on this battalion, which operates mainly in the West Bank and also includes soldiers living in illegal outposts, began following an incident in which an 80-year-old Palestinian-American, Omar As'ad, was killed after he was arrested by the soldiers of the battalion and held in harsh conditions despite his age and health.
Following the report, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, stated that the sanctions represent a "crossing of a red line." He continued, claiming that he anticipates Yoav Gallant, the defense minister, to "back up Netzah Yehuda," adding, "if the Defense Ministry won't back up the battalion, I will seek to absorb it in the Israel Police and the National Security Ministry. The Border Police ranks are open to receive this important battalion."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the decision to impose sanctions on the IDF while Israel is fighting for its existence is "absolute madness." Smotrich added that he warned that the Biden administration's sanctions will "continue to the IDF and the entire State of Israel" and alleged that it is a part of a planned move "to force Israel to agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state."
U.S. lawmakers critical of Israel's conduct have frequently cited the Leahy Law as grounds for reevaluating unconditional U.S. assistance for Israel – particularly in recent months as Gaza's humanitarian crisis has worsened.
Patrick Leahy himself, after whom the law is named, has decried how Israel is held to a different standard than other countries regarding the law, telling the Vermont Community Newspaper Group that "over the years, I've complained, to both Republican and Democratic administrations about the need to apply the law in Israel."
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