Israel Katz is an Israeli lawmaker and member of the Likud Party. He currently serves as the country's foreign minister after serving as energy minister for two years in a rotation deal with Eli Cohen.
Katz has served many other ministerial roles in the past, specifically as transportation minister, agriculture minister, intelligence minister, and finance minister.
He is considered a hardliner in Israeli politics regarding peace and security, supporting settlements and West Bank annexation, but has also advocated for the establishment of an autonomous Palestinian entity.
Katz's statement comes following an N12 report which claims Katz told a US official that Israel was not interested in controlling Gaza after the war.
“There are all kinds of talk about agreements behind the committee’s back. There is no such thing as behind the back of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” Edelstein said.
While speaking to the committee of former National Security Council chief Yaakov Nagel, Katz warned of being taken in prematurely by the HTS group.
Mediators believe that if a limited deal is indeed struck, with the release of hostages, it will result in a dynamic that will ultimately lead to a full deal that will end the war.
In the first phase of bolstering defense, the IDF will reinforce the area with five IDF companies.
Pentagon chief urges 'close consultation' between Israel and US on Syria • UN General Assembly demands immediate Gaza ceasefire
Austin also discussed with Katz attempts to secure Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas.
Katz's instructions came after the IDF, on Sunday afternoon, took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Tahrir also conducted his espionage work during wartime and gathered information on IDF operations and the locations of rocket impacts.
Rebels ousted pro-government forces from Hama, bringing the insurgents a major new victory after a lightning advance across northern Syria.
JPOST Digital Library
