Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel must preserve the security zone in southern Lebanon, according to a report by N12. The statement, made during a public address or interview, stresses the government's position on the buffer area established after the 2024 ground operation against Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Thursday that Israel must retain the security zone in southern Lebanon, according to a report by N12. The statement was made during a public address or interview, reaffirming the government's position on the buffer area established after the 2024 ground operation against Hezbollah.
Netanyahu's latest remarks build on a series of statements he made earlier Thursday. During a Highway 60 dedication ceremony at 16:06 Jerusalem, he said restoring northern security requires maintaining the zone and that Israel will not withdraw as long as its security needs demand it, also emphasizing the importance of preserving ties with the United States (The Zioneer, Thu 16:06). At the same time, Amit Segal (N12) reported that Netanyahu sent a formal message to U.S. President Trump stating the same position, amid reported U.S. pressure for an Israeli pullout linked to regional understandings with Iran (The Zioneer, Thu 16:06). The thread shows the prime minister delivering the core message in multiple settings—a road dedication, a message to Washington, and now a public address—with consistent language across all versions.
The statement comes as part of ongoing discussions within Israel's security establishment about the long-term arrangement on the northern border. As The Zioneer reported, the security zone was established after the 2024 ground operation against Hezbollah, and the thread notes reported tensions with the Trump administration over the pace and scope of a potential IDF pullout.
Netanyahu did not provide further details on the zone's future or any diplomatic negotiations, and no U.S. response was reported in the available material.
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