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.
EDIT
Ny Info 9. august 2024
USA vil IKKE sanksjonere IDF-bataljonen Netzah Yehuda:
"The United States has determined that alleged human rights violations
by an Israeli Defense Force unit have been "effectively remediated"
after reviewing new information provided by Israel, the State Department
said on Friday.
Following
the determination, spokesperson Matthew Miller said in an email that
the unit involved, the Netzah Yehuda battalion, can continue to receive
US security assistance."
Skudeneshavn 21. april 2024 / 9. august 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:
9. august 2024
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-814076
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
Kilde:
20.april 2024
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-20/ty-article/.premium/u-s-set-to-sanction-ultra-orthodox-israeli-army-battalion-based-in-the-west-bank/0000018e-fd0b-d140-a3ee-fddf9a1c0000?lts=1713727082012
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."
