Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has rejected a withdrawal from southern Lebanon, stating that the Israeli army will maintain its presence in the region even in the event of an American request to do so.
اضافة اعلان
During the Federation of Local Authorities conference, Katz added that "the IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if there is an American request," emphasizing his country's adherence to what he described as a "security concept" based on keeping Israeli forces in areas it deems essential for its security, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
He continued: "We will not leave the security zone in Syria and Lebanon. This is the security concept we adopt, and Israel sees the necessity of its forces' presence in the face of what it considers direct security threats."
The Israeli Defense Minister explained: "The IDF must be in southern Lebanon to protect the settlements from within the region itself," adding, "The soldiers are inside, and the residents are outside. We will not withdraw."
Katz's remarks come at a time when the Lebanese government asserts that its primary goal in the ongoing negotiations is to achieve a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territories and to reject the presence of any Israeli military points within the country. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that his country’s fundamental objective in the current talks is to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese lands, stressing that Beirut entered the negotiation track in Washington as "the least costly path for Lebanon."
