97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion | |
---|---|
גדוד נצח יהודה | |
![]() Logo of the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion | |
Active | 1999–present |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Infantry |
Size | Battalion |
Part of | Kfir Brigade |
Area of operations | West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights |
Motto(s) | And your camp must be holy (Devarim 23:15 = Deuteronomy 23:14). |
Engagements | Israel–Hamas war |
Website | idf.il/kfir-brigade |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt. Col. Lior Doft[1] |
The 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion (Hebrew: גדוד נצח יהודה, transl. 'Judah's Victory Battalion'), previously known as Nahal Haredi (הנחל החרדי) is a battalion in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces. The purpose of the unit is to allow Haredi Jewish men to serve as combat soldiers in the Israeli military by creating an atmosphere conducive to their religious convictions in the strict observance of Halakha.[2] The battallion has been accused of human rights violations against Palestinians, including killing unarmed civilians, killing suspects in custody, sexual assault and torture.[3][4][5][6]
Since the unit's creation, it has attracted many members of an extreme religious-nationalist settler group called the Hilltop Youth who are infamous for establishing illegal outposts on Palestinian land that have no legal basis in Israeli law.[7] In recent years, the Netzah Yehuda battalion has experienced at least a half-dozen controversial cases involving its soldiers, resulting in jail time, discharge, or harsh criticism for assaulting or killing innocent Palestinians.[8] In December 2022, Netzah Yehuda was removed by the IDF from its traditional posting in the West Bank to a border posting in the Golan Heights where the unit would be less exposed to Palestinians.[9][10]
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