Israel's Controversial Netzah Yehuda Unit: A History of Abuses and Sanction Threats
The Netzah Yehuda unit of the Israeli army, which was established in 1999 to encourage ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to enlist, has a history of human rights violations and is currently facing the threat of US sanctions.
The unit, which has accepted recruits from other religious backgrounds and Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, was previously deployed in the region until 2022.
Analysts and Israeli media have documented numerous transgressions and instances of impunity for this military unit.
The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has been exempt from mandatory military service since the country's creation in 1948.
This exemption has faced increasing criticism during the ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Netzah Yehuda is a new military unit that guarantees ultra-Orthodox recruits they can serve while adhering to their religious practices, such as a strict kosher diet, separation from women, and allocated time for prayer and religious studies.
The unit has primarily attracted marginalized ultra-Orthodox youths who see the army as a means of integrating into Israeli society and earning a living.
Netzah Yehuda is a controversial Israeli military battalion known for its strong religious nationalist members who have hostility towards Arabs.
The battalion, which has a reputation for scandals, is unique as it relies on volunteers instead of being composed of conscripts like most army units.
Marwa Maziad, a visiting lecturer of Israel studies at the US University of Maryland, described the battalion as having a strong ideological and sociological leaning.
Analysts and Israeli media have documented numerous transgressions and instances of impunity for this military unit.
The ultra-Orthodox community in Israel has been exempt from mandatory military service since the country's creation in 1948.
This exemption has faced increasing criticism during the ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Netzah Yehuda is a new military unit that guarantees ultra-Orthodox recruits they can serve while adhering to their religious practices, such as a strict kosher diet, separation from women, and allocated time for prayer and religious studies.
The unit has primarily attracted marginalized ultra-Orthodox youths who see the army as a means of integrating into Israeli society and earning a living.
Netzah Yehuda is a controversial Israeli military battalion known for its strong religious nationalist members who have hostility towards Arabs.
The battalion, which has a reputation for scandals, is unique as it relies on volunteers instead of being composed of conscripts like most army units.
Marwa Maziad, a visiting lecturer of Israel studies at the US University of Maryland, described the battalion as having a strong ideological and sociological leaning.
Translation:
Translated by AI
