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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he will fight the imposition of sanctions against any Israeli military unit for alleged human rights violations. The reaction comes after media reports that Washington was planning such a step.
The online news site Axios reported on Saturday that Washington was planning to impose sanctions on the Israeli battalion Netzah Yehuda, which has been operating in the occupied West Bank, although the Israeli military said it was not aware of any such measure. .
On Friday, the United States announced a series of sanctions related to Israeli settlers in the West Bank, signaling Washington's growing frustration with the policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition depends on settler parties.
"If anyone thinks they can impose sanctions on a unit of the Israeli army, I will fight it with all my might," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement.
Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, a former chief of the armed forces, said in a statement on Sunday that he had spoken to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and asked him to reconsider the matter.
Mr. Gantz said that such sanctions would be wrong because they would damage Israel's legitimacy during a time of war and that they were unjustified because Israel has an independent justice system and an army that respects international law.
The State Department declined to comment beyond comments made Friday by Secretary Blinken.
Secretary Blinken said Friday that he had made "decisions" regarding allegations that Israel has violated a series of US laws that prohibit providing military aid to individuals or security forces units that commit serious human rights abuses.
Earlier this week, the investigative news organization Pro Publica reported that a special State Department panel had recommended to Mr. Blinken months ago that multiple Israeli military and police units be disqualified from receiving American aid, following the allegations. for violation of human rights./ VOA
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