Prime Minister Netanyahu said Thursday at the dedication of Route 60 — the 'Bible Road' — that Israel must maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon and not withdraw as long as security needs require it, while safeguarding the alliance with the United States. The remarks were reported by N12's Amit Segal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed what he described as 'additional challenges' during a public dedication ceremony for Route 60 — officially renamed the 'Bible Road' — on Thursday evening in Jerusalem. Speaking to an audience including local officials, he stressed that the northern security zone in southern Lebanon must be preserved as long as Israeli security requires it. 'We will restore security to the north,' Netanyahu said, 'that requires maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon, it requires that we not leave there as long as Israel's security needs demand it.' He also framed the government's approach as requiring 'composure, resolute standing on our security interests, and alongside that — maintaining the important relationship with our American friends.' According to N12's Amit Segal, the remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic pressure on Israel over the IDF presence in Lebanon, including discussions with the Trump administration.
This is the latest in a series of statements from Netanyahu throughout Thursday on the Lebanon security zone. At 16:06 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported an initial statement by the Prime Minister — carried by N12 — reiterating the necessity of maintaining the zone. Minutes later, at 16:06 Jerusalem again, a separate report by Amit Segal indicated that Netanyahu had formally conveyed the same message to President Trump: Israel will not withdraw 'as long as Israel's security needs require it.' The dedication ceremony itself, reported at 16:06 Jerusalem, provided the venue for the Prime Minister's public remarks. Earlier Thursday, at 10:17 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Netanyahu had already told Trump that Israel would not withdraw from Lebanon or abandon the north. The thread shows a consistent position, reported initially through one channel (N12's Amit Segal) and subsequently corroborated by multiple newsroom reports.
As The Zioneer has also reported, the diplomatic backdrop includes a reported US-Iran memorandum of understanding that Israeli officials assess may intensify, rather than ease, American pressure for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israeli fears, reported Thursday at 14:24 Jerusalem, center on potential practical US steps ranging from delayed weapons shipments to a de facto arms embargo should resistance persist. Netanyahu's own office, as reported at 16:47 Jerusalem, had earlier framed the challenge as requiring the safeguarding of security interests while preserving ties with the US.
As of 19:03 Jerusalem, no official confirmation from the White House or Prime Minister's Office has been issued regarding the precise content of the message reportedly delivered to Trump. Whether the administration will accept Israel's stated position or press for a defined timeline for withdrawal remains open.
5 developments
- StrongNetanyahu vows IDF to stay in southern Lebanon 'as long as security needs require'
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Must safeguard security interests while preserving ties with US
- StrongNetanyahu warned ministers: No immunity, not in Beirut nor Tehran
- ConfirmedNetanyahu: Israel will stay in security buffer zones as long as needed to defend itself
Source and signal
- Internal intake