Israeli defense minister backs army unit accused of abuses against Palestinians

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated support on Monday for an army battalion accused of abuses and human rights violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Gallant toured border outposts in the Gaza Strip and spoke to soldiers of the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, his office said in a statement.

"The defense establishment is behind you, no one will teach us about values and morals," Gallant told soldiers of the combat unit.

The visit came amid reports that the US was preparing to impose sanctions on the battalion over its rights violations against Palestinians.

Gallant argued that the fact that some of the soldiers did something wrong does not mean "to vilify the [entire] battalion."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said that "sanctions must not be imposed on the IDF (army)!"

The battalion was established in 1999 as a special military unit for ultra-Orthodox Jews, and all soldiers and officers in it - mostly illegal settlers - are men.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar