Netzah Yehuda Battalion

97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion
גדוד נצח יהודה
Logo of the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion
Active1999–present
Country Israel
TypeInfantry
SizeBattalion
Part ofKfir Brigade
Area of operationsWest Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights
Motto(s)And your camp must be holy (Devarim 23:15 = Deuteronomy 23:14).
EngagementsIsrael–Hamas war
Websiteidf.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]

  1. ^ "בצל הלחימה הקשה: חילופי מפקדים בגדוד החרדי". 4 June 2024.
  2. ^ Zitun, Yoav (17 December 2018). "A Haredi battalion in the eye of the storm". Ynetnews. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Israel's controversial ultra-orthodox battalion: Netzah Yehuda Explained". WION. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Who are the 'Netzah Yehuda'? US move to sanction IDF battalion irks Israel". The Week. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ "US set to impose sanctions on Israeli military unit over alleged human rights abuses". Financial Times. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  6. ^ Staff, Al Jazeera. "What is Netzah Yehuda, the Israeli battalion facing possible US sanctions?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  7. ^ "U.S. expected to sanction IDF unit for human rights violations in occupied West Bank".
  8. ^ Jeremy Bob, Yonah (21 April 2024). "US, Netzach Yehuda, ICC train wreck: When America tried to walk a tightrope and missed – analysis". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  9. ^ Harel, Amos (2023-01-02). "Violent ultra-Orthodox battalion moves to Golan Heights". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  10. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (December 1, 2022). "Religious unit with reputation of rights abuses to exit West Bank for first time". Times of Israel.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search