By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Sunday outlined Israel’s strategic defense policy regarding both the country’s northern and southern fronts, as U.S.-backed diplomatic initiatives seek to shape post-war arrangements in Gaza and redefine regional stability involving Syria and the Golan Heights. The remarks, issued in a statement on Katz’s official X account, come amid rising tensions over a pending United Nations Security Council resolution backed by Washington that includes a framework for renewed peace efforts and a potential pathway toward Palestinian statehood.

According to a report on Sunday at World Israel News, the Defense Minister’s statement represents Israel’s most direct rejection yet of the latest U.S. draft resolution, which is expected to be brought to a vote at the U.N. on Monday. The resolution incorporates, in full, the 20-point Gaza peace plan formulated by the Trump administration last month—an initiative that seeks to establish a long-term ceasefire, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and lay the groundwork for what American diplomats have called a “credible path toward Palestinian self-determination.”

“Israel’s policy is clear: No Palestinian state will be established,” Katz wrote, pointedly addressing critics from within Israel’s right-wing coalition who have accused the government of failing to respond forcefully to what they consider U.S. overreach into Israeli sovereignty.

As reported by World Israel News, the pending U.N. resolution forms part of a broader American diplomatic push to stabilize the region following the two-year conflict in Gaza. At the heart of the proposal is the establishment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF)—a multinational coalition composed primarily of troops from Arab and Muslim-majority states—tasked with enforcing a ceasefire, overseeing the disarmament of militant factions, and facilitating humanitarian reconstruction.

The ISF, according to the draft, would assume responsibility for securing “Old Gaza” while supporting the development of a new administrative authority to govern the enclave in cooperation with international partners. Phase Two of the plan envisions the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from most urban centers in Gaza, contingent upon verifiable demilitarization and the dismantling of Hamas’ military infrastructure.

However, as the World Israel News report detailed, the viability of the American plan remains uncertain due to Hamas’ ongoing refusal to disarm and reluctance among potential Arab contributors to commit troops who might face direct conflict with Hamas operatives. Some diplomatic sources have suggested that Washington may attempt to implement certain aspects of the Gaza plan even if Hamas retains residual armed capabilities—a proposal that has drawn criticism in Jerusalem.

Katz’s statement made clear that Israel will not delegate full responsibility for Gaza’s security to foreign forces and that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to act independently if international mechanisms fail to deliver on disarmament.

“Gaza will be demilitarized down to the last tunnel, and Hamas will be disarmed — on the Yellow Side by the IDF, and in Old Gaza by the international force, or by the IDF,” Katz wrote. His remarks underscore Israel’s determination to preserve operational freedom to ensure that Hamas cannot reconstitute its military capabilities.

The Defense Minister’s comments also addressed Israel’s security posture in the Golan Heights, where U.S. diplomats have been engaged in quiet efforts to broker a security arrangement between Jerusalem and Damascus. The initiative follows recent developments in Syria, including the collapse of the Assad regime and the rise of a new government that has demanded Israel’s withdrawal from portions of the 1974 disengagement zone—a demilitarized area originally established under the post-Yom Kippur War armistice agreement.

As cited in the World Israel News report, Katz flatly rejected these demands, asserting that the IDF will not retreat from Mount Hermon or other strategic positions currently under Israeli control. “The IDF will remain on Mount Hermon and in the Security Zone,” he declared, reaffirming Israel’s intent to maintain a defensive buffer against potential hostilities emanating from Syria and Iranian-backed militias operating in the region.

The statement aligns with Israel’s long-standing insistence on retaining strategic depth along the northern frontier, particularly given the presence of Hezbollah units and Iranian proxies in southern Syria and western Lebanon. Israel’s military operations in recent months have included a series of precision strikes on weapons convoys and command centers linked to Hezbollah near Quneitra and Daraa, reinforcing its resolve to prevent the establishment of hostile infrastructure near its borders.

The World Israel News report noted that U.S. officials, including senior envoys involved in regional negotiations, have been pressing both sides to reach a “mutual understanding” that would avert a renewed escalation along the northern front. Yet, significant disagreements remain—not only over Syria’s territorial claims but also over Israel’s insistence on expanding the existing buffer zone to ensure long-term security stability.

Katz’s statement also appears to respond to internal tensions within the Israeli government. Members of the right-wing coalition, including ministers from the Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties, have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a formal rejection of any international initiative that includes references to Palestinian statehood.

As World Israel News reported, these political factions have accused Washington of attempting to impose a “de facto diplomatic framework” on Israel through the U.N. process—potentially constraining future military and policy options in Gaza and the broader territories of Judea and Samaria.

In their view, the American proposal risks legitimizing international interference in areas that Israel regards as vital to its national security and historical patrimony. Katz’s explicit denial of Palestinian statehood appears to reaffirm Israel’s stance that sovereignty over these territories will not be ceded under external pressure.

“This is a clear message,” a senior Likud official told World Israel News following Katz’s post. “Israel will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state or the erosion of its security control—whether in Gaza, the Golan Heights, or Judea and Samaria.”

While the United States has framed its initiative as an effort to consolidate peace and prevent renewed warfare, the World Israel News report observed that the proposal has generated visible strain between Washington and Jerusalem. Katz’s statement reflects a broader Israeli concern that international stabilization efforts could evolve into mechanisms limiting the IDF’s operational autonomy, especially in critical border zones.

For the Trump administration, the resolution represents a pivotal step toward restoring American influence in post-war regional diplomacy. However, Israel’s leadership remains wary that such diplomatic overtures could inadvertently embolden adversaries by constraining Israel’s defensive posture.

U.S. officials have privately acknowledged the challenges in securing regional participation for the proposed International Stabilization Force, with some Arab states expressing skepticism about the political feasibility of confronting Hamas militarily while maintaining domestic legitimacy.

Despite these complications, the World Israel News report noted that the U.S. remains committed to presenting the draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council, underscoring its intent to advance a comprehensive framework for Gaza’s governance even in the absence of unanimous regional support.

Katz’s declaration of “no Palestinian state” and his firm stance on maintaining Israeli control over the Golan Heights represent a continuation of Israel’s doctrine of strategic deterrence, as described by defense analysts interviewed by World Israel News. The Defense Minister’s words signal that, regardless of international initiatives, Israel will retain military primacy in determining the security configuration of its borders.

His remarks also highlight the deepening tension between diplomatic aspirations and military imperatives, as Israel navigates a complex geopolitical landscape defined by renewed American engagement, Arab state recalibration, and ongoing threats from terrorist networks operating on both its southern and northern flanks.

As the World Israel News report emphasized, the coming weeks will test the durability of U.S.-Israeli coordination on Gaza and Syria. The pending U.N. vote on the U.S.-sponsored resolution will serve as a litmus test for how far Washington’s vision of regional stabilization can align with Jerusalem’s uncompromising emphasis on national security and sovereign control.

For now, Defense Minister Katz’s words leave little ambiguity: Israel will not accept any arrangement that compromises its security or grants political recognition to entities it deems hostile to its existence.