Israel's contoversial Netzah Yehuda battalion

[pieter]

2 july 2023

Have you heard about Neztach Yehuda, the ultra-Orthodox combat unit of the IDF? This all-male unit provides a space for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to serve in Israel’s military.

Their motto, “V’haya Machanecha Kadosh” (“And Your [military] camp shall be holy”), is derived from the Torah and signifies the importance of maintaining a sin-free and ritually clean Jewish military camp. The battalion strives to accommodate the religious requirements of its soldiers.

Although the unit has complexities and controversies associated with it, here’s a brief overview of who they are.

[pieter]

[pieter]

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[pieter]

Yesterday, 8:57 PM

No US action yet against Israeli units for human rights violations


Members of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion with a rightwing Nationalist Army rabbi. These extreme right Revisionist Zionist army rabbi's have a lot of influence within the Israeli army on the minority of Ultra Orthodox and Ultra Nationalist Revisionist Zionist army soldiers. Often extreme right settlers from the West Bank.

The US State Department says five Israeli army units are guilty of gross human rights violations. These atrocities are said to have taken place in areas outside Gaza and well before the Gaza war began.

A US law prohibits the supply of weapons to individuals or armed forces who commit gross human rights violations and are not prosecuted. However, the ministry's findings have not yet had any consequences.

Four units have now "corrected" the violations, a US department spokesperson said. Israel has provided the US with additional information about the Fifth Unit violations and the countries are discussing the matter. The spokesperson did not want to say which units these were, what they did and how the violations were corrected.

Netzah Yehuda Battalion



The Israeli newspaper Haaretz and the American news site Axios, among others, reported earlier this month that the US is "expected" to impose sanctions against the Netzah Yehuda battalion. This is a special unit for ultra-Orthodox soldiers that in the past was mainly stationed in the West Bank. The US State Department began an investigation into the battalion in late 2022 after it was involved in several incidents of violence against Palestinian civilians.

A source told Reuters that the investigation, which has not yet been completed, concerns this battalion.


Members of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion on duty


Members of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion with a rightwing Nationalist Army rabbi


Soldiers of the Neztah Yehuda Battalion complete the final stages of a 40 kilometer journey all throught the night of Feb 16 2010. The ultra orthodox brigade (Nahal Haredi) was created in 1999 by a group of rabbis in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense, as a venue for young men who wish to serve the national interests of Eretz Yisrael while adhering to the highest religious standards. From a small unit of 30 soldiers, Nahal Haredi has become an IDF battalion of close to 1,000 . Photo by Abir Sultan/Flash90

[Jaga]

Pieter, I don't understand why the US is so timid about Israel and its military actions. Biden and Blinken are so afraid of saying anything.... Blinken is a good man but he does not stand up and protect the laws of humanity.