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“Even if there is an American demand, we will not withdraw from southern Lebanon,” Katz said.
By United with Israel Staff
Senior Israeli ministers delivered some of the government’s strongest public statements yet on Wednesday regarding Israel’s future presence in southern Lebanon and its willingness to defy American pressure when national security interests are at stake.
Speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026 conference, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon, even if Washington were to demand it.
“Even if there is an American demand, we will not withdraw from southern Lebanon,” Katz said.
The defense minister argued that Israel’s security experience in previous buffer zones had demonstrated the dangers of allowing civilian populations to return to areas where IDF forces are operating.
“Two hundred thousand residents will not return. There will be no residents and no terrorists,” Katz said. “What happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population was roadside bombs and attacks against soldiers. Therefore, we will not allow that.”
“Soldiers inside, residents outside,” he continued. “The infrastructure is destroyed, the homes are damaged and dangerous. We are not withdrawing.”
Katz’s comments come as reports have suggested that Israeli officials are weighing limited troop redeployments from selected areas in southern Lebanon ahead of a new round of U.S.-mediated talks aimed at preserving the fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar delivered a similarly blunt message regarding Israel’s relationship with the United States, predicting that disagreements between the two allies could intensify in the near future.
“In my opinion, the United States will find itself in clashes with Israel in the near future,” Zohar said.
He added that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had adopted a policy under which Israel would no longer automatically accept American requests.
“Netanyahu made a decision, and I think people are beginning to notice it,” Zohar said. “The answer to the United States will not be automatic. It will be based on whether it serves Israel’s interests, and if it does not serve Israel’s interests, the answer to the United States will be ‘no.'”
The comments also came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for greater Israeli military self-sufficiency. Speaking to reserve officers, Netanyahu said Israel deeply values American support but must be able to produce its own weapons and military equipment.
“I want armaments independence,” Netanyahu said. “We need our own independent armaments network. We must manufacture our own armaments.” He said Israel must “break free from dependency” by expanding domestic production, integrating new technologies, and strengthening future generations of military commanders.
The comments reflect a growing sentiment among some senior Israeli officials that Jerusalem must maintain greater strategic independence as it navigates ongoing security challenges in Lebanon, Gaza, and elsewhere in the region.
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