Katz salutes Hilltop Youth as Israel’s ‘pioneers’, then declares: ‘We are staying forever’

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has praised Hilltop Youth settler activists as “pioneers” while highlighting the Israeli government’s push to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank. Speaking in Ganim, Katz also addressed Hezbollah, saying Israel would maintain a security zone in Lebanon until the group is disarmed and the threat eliminated. He described destroyed Hezbollah tunnels and Lebanese border villages, while linking Israel’s military strength to security and potential peace. The remarks come amid renewed debate over West Bank settlements, settler violence, Israel’s presence in Lebanon, and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Watch the full statement and key developments.