Back نيتسح يهودا Arabic نيتسح يهودا ARZ Batalló Netzah Yehuda Catalan Netzach-Jehuda-Bataillon German Batallón Netzah Yehuda Spanish Netsah Yehouda French נצח יהודה HE Necag Yehuda IO Batalion Necach Jehuda Polish Nahal Haredi Portuguese
| 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion | |
|---|---|
| גדוד נצח יהודה | |
.jpg){kind=logo} Logo of the 97th Netzah Yehuda Battalion | |
| Active | 1999–present |
| Country |  Israel |
| 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 battalion has been accused of human rights violations against Palestinians, including killing unarmed civilians, killing suspects in custody, and torture.[3][4][5]
Despite the original purpose of the battalion being to accommodate Haredim who wish to serve in the military, the majority of the unit (60%) is drawn from Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community, specifically those as part of the Hardal sub-group. Though the Hardalim and Haredim share some similarities, the two remain distinct communities, and are both halakhic and ideological opposites on many important issues, most importantly Zionism.[6][7] Many Haredi leaders publicly denounced the creation of the battalion, particularly Rabbi Aharon Shteinman, who disowned the unit entirely.[8]
Since the unit's creation, it has attracted many members of an extreme Dati Leumi settler group called the Hilltop Youth who are infamous for establishing illegal outposts on Palestinian land that have no legal basis in Israeli law.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11][12]
- ^ "בצל הלחימה הקשה: חילופי מפקדים בגדוד החרדי". 4 June 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Israel's controversial ultra-orthodox battalion: Netzah Yehuda Explained". WION. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Who are the 'Netzah Yehuda'? US move to sanction IDF battalion irks Israel". The Week. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
- ^ "US set to impose sanctions on Israeli military unit over alleged human rights abuses". Financial Times. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Harel, Amos (March 2012). "Religious-nationalist soldiers serve in a route intended for the ultra-Orthodox only". Haaretz.
- ^ Ettinger, Yair (June 2012). "Founder of the Haredi Nakhal: The Committee Sows Illusions". Haaretz.
- ^ "חשיפה: הנח"ל החרדי בסכנת התמוטטות". ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-06.
- ^ "U.S. expected to sanction IDF unit for human rights violations in occupied West Bank".
- ^ 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.
- ^ Harel, Amos (2023-01-02). "Violent ultra-Orthodox battalion moves to Golan Heights". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (December 1, 2022). "Religious unit with reputation of rights abuses to exit West Bank for first time". Times of Israel.