Yisrael Katz
Israeli Likud politician and defence minister, who has said Israel will hold a security zone in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River
| Yisrael Katz
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|---|---|
| Image | .jpg)
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| Nationality | Israeli |
| Occupation | Minister of Defence |
| Known for | Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon |
Yisrael Katz (also Israel Katz) is an Israeli Likud politician and Israel's defence minister.[1] He was Transport Minister in the Israeli Government formed on 18 March 2013.[2]
Lebanon
On 24 March 2026, during the war with Hezbollah, Katz said that "Israel" would occupy a swathe of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River.[3] On 31 March he said the army "would control the area up to the Litani River, including the remaining Litani bridges".[4] He said that "all homes in villages near the border in Lebanon would be destroyed, according to the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza", and that more than 600,000 displaced residents would not be allowed back south of the Litani until northern Israel was secure.[5] On 20 October 2026 he wrote on X that "Israel has established a security zone inside Lebanese territory covering 700 square kilometers", and that "the area is now free of residents, armed infrastructure, and houses". He said that the army would not withdraw from its security zone until Hezbollah was fully disarmed. Annahar reported him as saying that the army was ready to conduct ground operations in additional areas of Nabatieh and the Litani Basin, evacuate their residents and permanently annex them to the zone.[1] See Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon (2024–present).
External resources
- Udi Etzion, Transportation Ministry to Hebraize road signs, ynetnews.com, 13 July 2009.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Annahar, Katz says Israel will hold Lebanese security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed Annahar, 20 October 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Knesset, Government 33 knesset.gov.il, accessed 18 March 2013 (Israeli government-side).
- ↑ Alexander Cornwell and Nazih Osseiran, Israel's military to occupy swathe of southern Lebanon, defence minister says Reuters, 24 March 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Reuters, Israel to establish buffer zone in south Lebanon up to Litani River, defence minister says Reuters, 31 March 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.
- ↑ Reuters, Israel to establish buffer zone in south Lebanon up to Litani River, defence minister says Al-Monitor, 31 March 2026, accessed 22 October 2026.