Bezalel Smotrich

Smotrich's comments came at a ceremony celebrating the establishment of a new settlement, called Maoz Tzur, in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.

Israel's creation of "buffer zones" in Gaza, Syria, and now Lebanon reflects a strategic shift after the attacks of October 7, 2023, one that puts the country in a semi-permanent state of war.

Ongoing war, political tension, and societal strain cause many Israelis to feel growing despair and uncertainty about the future of Israel.

In the video, one of the individuals can be heard shouting at the gate that they are a teacher, before blaming Kisch for the Iranian attack, and that "these missiles are your fault! Protect me!"

Is Israel prepared to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River on a long-term basis, or is its readiness to hold onto the area a temporary tactic to apply short-term pressure on Hezbollah?

The move is intended to “strengthen resilience and support community relief efforts, reflecting a clear policy: the enemy evacuates, while Israel’s residents remain strong in their homes."

At the center of the case is a December 25, 2025, Finance Committee transfer involving education funds, including money directed to haredi institutions.

Israel’s push to secure its northern border is justified, but rhetoric about the Litani River risks blurring defense with annexation, carrying serious strategic and diplomatic costs.

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz said Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," a river that meets the Mediterranean.

The comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were the most explicit yet by a senior Israeli official on seizing Lebanese territory in a fight Israel says targets Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.