O.Next.- Blinken talks with Gallant and Gantz about possible US sanctions on ultra-conservative battalion – Spain

The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, spoke this Sunday with the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, and the ‘number two’ of the War Cabinet, Benny Gantz, informing them that the ultra-Orthodox battalion, Netzah Yehuda, in the West Bank May be subject to sanctions for alleged acts that commit crimes against human rights against the Palestinian population.

Blinken addressed “efforts to protect Israel’s security and ensure the release of hostages, allow an immediate ceasefire, and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.” “They also highlighted the importance of measures to de-escalate tensions in the region,” said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Secretary of State.

The Israeli military defended the work of Netzah Yehuda this Sunday, indicating that the battalion fights with “courage and professionalism while preserving the values ​​of the military in accordance with international law.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have warned that they “do not recognize the issue” of these sanctions, US sources have told Axios news portal, and have said they will “investigate” the issue when Washington makes a decision. do.

However, Gallant has spoken to the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Herzi Halevi, about ways to avoid the planned sanctions against the aforementioned battalion, thus asking him to “act at all levels of government to clarify” about Joe Biden. Instructed to do”. “The importance of supporting IDF operations, which are conducted subject to international law.”

“The battalion commanders and soldiers have been working on the front lines of the battle, since the war began, to thwart terrorist elements and to expel (Lebanese Shia militia party) Hezbollah from the northern border. “In Judea and Samaria (the Biblical name for the West Bank) and these days they are risking their lives working to eliminate the Hamas brigades in the Strip,” he said.

“I hope that the US administration will withdraw its intention to impose sanctions on Netzah Yehuda. (…) Any attempt to denigrate the entire entity casts a heavy shadow over the IDF’s actions to protect Israeli civilians and Disappoints terrorist elements,” he declared.

In this sense, he considered that this measure would set a “dangerous” precedent. He concluded, “The loss of one battalion is a loss to the entire defense system; this is not the way to behave with partners and friends,” The Times of Israel newspaper reported.

If announced, these sanctions would prevent members of this battalion from receiving military assistance or training from the US military. In particular, Blinken has blamed the ultra-Orthodox for instigating a wave of violence against the Palestinian population in the West Bank before the war with Hamas began on October 7.