The Biden administration’s reported decision to sanction religious units in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for alleged past human rights abuses will come back to haunt the United States as other countries take similar actions against American troops. It will be.
For example, the United States has refused to participate in the International Criminal Court, knowing that even if the U.S. military complies with international law, adversaries will abuse the courts to prosecute U.S. soldiers. It is.
Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, warned that the administration is putting the U.S. military in legal jeopardy.
According to today’s report, Secretary Blinken is preparing to cross the Rubicon in a political war against Israel in a way that not only delegitimizes a close wartime democratic ally but also puts American service members at grave risk. It seems like it is. The senators should take this to the next level…
— Richard Goldberg (@rich_goldberg) April 21, 2024
For years, Israeli soldiers and even elected officials have recognized the danger of extremist foreign prosecutors (usually European) attempting to charge them with war crimes based on frivolous claims pushed by activist groups. Ta.
That is why many Israeli Defense Forces soldiers today do not appear on camera without masks. Many of the soldiers in the field today are reservists, men with careers and families who may travel for work or vacation. They do not want to be subject to prosecution based on anti-Israel extremist violence. The Biden administration has done to Israel what radical activists have tried to do in Europe, and will undoubtedly do the same to the United States in the future.
The sanctioned unit, the Netzach Yehuda (“Eternal Jews”) unit, is made up of ultra-Orthodox Jews who are normally exempt from military service. Previously serving the West Bank, it is now located in the Golan Heights.
Netzach Yehuda has been a hot topic in recent years, but not before the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. complaint Human rights groups are protesting the treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, including the death of a Palestinian-American who was stopped at a checkpoint due to a heart attack. As with all complaints, the IDF investigated these complaints, applied penalties where necessary, and even relocated troops to the Golan Islands.
hostile article The Intercept in 2023 noted that because of its ultra-Orthodox composition, it was “very easy to scapegoat” the unit, which likely made it a target for liberal critics in Israel and the US. He pointed out that it seemed unsympathetic.
But news of impending U.S. sanctions broke on Saturday, leading to near-universal condemnation of Biden’s decision within Israel (more likely Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his decision). ) anti israel Department).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the sanctions “another act of moral depravity.” Even Yair Lapid, an opposition leader close to the Biden administration, said the sanctions were a “mistake.” Because the results are clear.
First, whatever is wrong with Netzach Yehuda forces, imposing sanctions on allies in the middle of a war is devastating. It is a war in which its allies are attacked on multiple fronts and are fighting for their very survival.
The sanctions do not reflect post-October 7 conduct, although few critics would make that distinction. They will — correctly — view the sanctions as a criticism of Israel’s war against Hamas and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups (and Iran itself).
Second, and more personally for all Israelis, there is nothing to stop Israelis from being prosecuted now for their wartime service. Hundreds of thousands of reservists and volunteers who defended our country now feel at risk.
The sanctions introduced by Biden and Blinken have the timing to appeal not only to shaken “progressive”, Arab and Muslim American voters, but also to disgruntled administrations and Congressional officials who dislike Israel. It appears that this was what he was aiming for.
They also reflect hostility within the government toward Prime Minister Netanyahu himself. Biden and Blinken have been signaling for months that they want Netanyahu removed from office and would isolate Israel until he steps down.
Ironically, sanctions against Netzach Yehuda will weaken Israel’s opposition to its push to recruit ultra-Orthodox soldiers. The Biden administration is hurting that cause by targeting ultra-Orthodox forces.
However, the greatest long-term damage may be to the United States itself. Mr. Biden and Mr. Blinken set a precedent for sanctions against Western military personnel, which pay close attention to the laws of war and have strong judicial processes.
Moreover, the Biden administration is sending a signal to the Middle East and the world that the United States is not a loyal ally and cannot be counted on for assistance in times of crisis. Friends and enemies alike are paying attention and acting accordingly.
Joel B. Pollack is a senior editor at Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday Sunday nights from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET (4:00 PM to 7:00 PM PT) on Sirius XM Patriot. He is the author of a recently published e-book.The Zionist conspiracy (and how to join it)‘ is now available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Neither Free nor Fair: The 2020 US Presidential Election. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter @joelpolak.
