JERUSALEM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that the Israeli military will not withdraw from the "security zones" it holds in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
In a statement, Katz framed the decision as a response to threats and a lesson from the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, saying that the military will continue to protect Israel's borders and citizens.
He added that the Israeli army will also not withdraw from evacuated refugee camps in the northern West Bank, and the move could be expanded to additional "terror" camps if necessary.
Regarding ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, Katz said that Israel expects U.S. President Donald Trump to uphold shared U.S.-Israeli interests in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curbing Tehran's missile program and regional "proxies."
He noted that Israel must retain the ability to act "independently" to achieve that goal, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he have instructed the military to prepare accordingly. ■
