Israel Katz has announced that Israel will remain indefinitely in parts of Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. He cited the protection of Israeli residents from jihadist elements as the reason. Katz did not outline any concrete plans for a possible settlement of these areas.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel that ties an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas in southern Lebanon to the disarmament of Hezbollah.
In Lebanon, the area Katz refers to as a security zone extends about ten kilometers beyond the border. In the Gaza Strip and Syria, Israeli forces hold large territories under occupation.
Source: www.zeit.de
