Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Thursday, as reported by N12's Amit Segal, that Israel must create a security zone in southern Lebanon for years to come, and that "the only thing that hurts the enemy is land." He stated the zone should become an inseparable part of the State of Israel.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated Thursday evening that Israel must create a permanent security zone in southern Lebanon as an inseparable part of the state, arguing that "the only thing that hurts the enemy is land." The remarks were reported by N12's Amit Segal.
The statement extends recent calls by senior Israeli leaders for an open-ended military presence in the buffer zones. As The Zioneer has reported, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on June 21 that Israel will hold security zones in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon for as long as necessary, and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on June 15 that the IDF will remain in these zones indefinitely, calling the buffer a key war achievement.
Smotrich's formulation that the zone should be "an inseparable part of the State of Israel" goes further than previous statements by Netanyahu and Katz, which focused on military presence rather than sovereignty. The position comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts with the United States and Lebanon over border arrangements. It remains unclear whether this represents a formal coalition position.
2 developments
- StrongSmotrich: The immediate test is in Lebanon; convert military gains into stable security reality
- ConfirmedSmotrich: Israel will not withdraw from Lebanon, deepening rift with US over Iran deal
- DevelopingSmotrich calls for massive Lebanon response instead of tit-for-tat with Iran
- DevelopingSmotrich hails security achievements, says IDF controls 70% of Gaza and holds Lebanon buffer zone
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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