Visiting north, Defense Minister Katz promises to keep fighting until goals achieved

As efforts continue in Washington and Beirut to find a negotiated end to combat between Israel and Hezbollah, new Defense Minister Israel Katz promises that the IDF will keep fighting until all of Israel’s goals are achieved.

“We will not make any ceasefire, we will not take our foot off the gas, and we will not allow any arrangement that does not include the achievement of the war’s goals,” says Katz during a visit to IDF Northern Command with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. He lists the aims as disarming Hezbollah, pushing it beyond the Litani River, and allowing for the residents of northern Israel to return safely to their homes.

The disarming of Hezbollah has not been included in Israel’s war aims in Lebanon to this stage. It is unclear if the statement was a slip of the tongue by Katz.

Katz stresses that Israel will continue to insist on its “right to enforce [any deal] on its own and to act against any terrorist activity and organization.”

“Now we need to continue to hit Hezbollah with all our strength,” he says.