The Lead
Israeli Foreign Minister Rabbi Eliyahu Cohen stated on Friday that the territory seized by the IDF in southern Lebanon is strictly defensive and that its withdrawal is not open for negotiation with the United States. His comments come in direct response to international reports suggesting Israel had begun a partial pullback as a "goodwill gesture" to the Lebanese government.
Rejection of Withdrawal Reports
Foreign Minister Eliyahu Cohen clarified Israel's stance on Friday, following reports from international news agencies that cited a US official claiming a partial Israeli withdrawal from the security zone in southern Lebanon. Cohen emphasized that the IDF's presence in the territory is a defensive necessity intended to protect northern Israeli communities from the threat of Hezbollah. According to reports from i24NEWS and Channel 14, Cohen stated that even if approached by the Trump administration or any other US entity, the answer regarding a withdrawal would remain a firm "no."
Conflicting Accounts of a "Goodwill Gesture"
The diplomatic friction began on Thursday when a US State Department official told Reuters that Israel had taken a "concrete step" by pulling back from parts of its buffer zone. The official characterized the move as a significant demonstration of good faith toward the Lebanese government, suggesting that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) would deploy in those areas. However, both Israel and Lebanon have since issued denials regarding these specific claims. Israeli leadership continues to insist that the IDF will not vacate southern Lebanon until Hezbollah no longer poses a direct threat to the border.
Analysis and Strategic Outlook
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk notes that this exchange highlights a widening gap between Washington's diplomatic framework and Jerusalem's security-first doctrine. While the US appears to be pushing for a transition to Lebanese military control to stabilize the region, Israeli officials remain skeptical of the LAF's ability or willingness to prevent Hezbollah's return to the border fence. Cohen's statement reinforces a consistent line from the Israeli cabinet: the security zone is not a territorial ambition but a tactical buffer that will be maintained as long as the security reality demands it. Readers should watch for whether these public denials are followed by further tactical repositioning or a hardening of the Israeli stance in ongoing negotiations.
8 developments
- The Zioneer Intelligence Desk