Israel Katz

Netanyahu orders West Bank crackdown after two Israelis killed in terror shooting amid clashes

PM, Defense Minister Katz announce increased troop deployments, new checkpoints, expanded counterterrorism measures • Terror shooting followed confrontation involving settlers, IDF, and Palestinians

(From R-L) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra, military secretary Maj.-Gen. Guy Markizeno, IDF chief Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, IDF Intelligence head Maj.-Gen. Shlomi Binder, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Shin Bet head David Zini consult, July 24, 2026.
Maj. Ella Waweya, the new Arabic language spokesperson.

IDF is ready and prepared for fighting with Iran to resume, Arabic spokesperson Waweya says

Defense Minister Israel Katz in a meeting with high-ranking IDF officials.

Iran will face a 'crushing blow' if it attacks Israel, Katz warns after security assessment

Israeli soldiers disperse with tear gas Palestinians who had gathered as a fire blazes near the village of Tell, adjacent to the Israeli settlement of Havat Gilad, west of Nablus in the West Bank on July 18, 2026.

Katz goes all out against IDF attempts to reduce Jewish violence against Palestinians - analysis


'Zero tolerance': Katz bans Omri Ronen from IDF service following reserve duty refusal remarks

Ronen, who joined The Democrats Party in February, is a leader of the Brothers and Sisters in Arms organization, having participated in protests against the government’s judicial reform. 

New member of the Democrats party Omri Ronen at a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2026.

'Committed to protecting Israel from every threat': Katz confirms he spoke with Hegseth on Iran war

Katz also briefed Hegseth onIsrael’s operations against terrorist groups operating in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington.

Israel Katz's populist push to pardon Elor Azaria puts Israel at serious risk - comment

Azaria was not convicted of mere "negligent homicide", but of manslaughter for his actions in 2016.

Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who was caught on video shooting a wounded Palestinian assailant in the head as he lay on the ground, sits during a hearing at a military appeals court in Tel Aviv during which he was charged with manslaughter on April 18, 2016.

Katz requests pardon for Elor Azaria, convicted of killing incapacitated Palestinian attacker

The IDF position is contrary to the defense minister's, Katz notes in Azaria's pardon request • Request seeks to expunge criminal record after Azaria was released from prison in 2018

Elor Azaria sits to hear his verdict in a military court in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 4, 2017

IDF chief Zamir clashes with Netanyahu, Katz over bill exempting haredi draft dodgers from arrests

In a sharply worded letter, Zamir said the haredi exemption law would harm recruitment and create serious security risks for the IDF.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends a Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, May 10, 2026.

Shin Bet begins probe into leak of wartime intel. to media outlet under pressure from Netanyahu

Since there was no intention to question journalists about the leak, but only members of the defense establishment, the Shin Bet ruled that there is no need to obtain the A-G's approval.

Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) Director David Zini visits at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem during Memorial Day which commemorates the fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror, on April 21, 2026.

Withdrawal cannot be a gesture of faith: US, Israel must align on Lebanon - editorial

“We did not ask anyone’s permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon,” Israel Katz said, adding that Israeli forces would remain until Hezbollah is disarmed.

US President Donald Trump gestures as he steps off Air Force One to board the new Qatari-gifted Boeing plane, enroute to the United States following his participation in the NATO Summit at Royal Air Force Mildenhall on July 08, 2026 in Mildenhall, England.

'We do not need permission': Katz rejects Trump's claim that Israel will withdraw from Lebanon

"We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon," Katz stated.

DEFENSE MINISTER Israel Katz at the memorial service for IDF soldiers killed during the Second Lebanon War.

US Defense Secretary Hegseth cancels visit to Israel following Iran strikes, source tells 'Post'

Hegseth, who is in Ankara alongside US President Donald Trump for the NATO summit, was expected to make a brief visit against the backdrop of the American strikes against Iran.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing on the Iran war, with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), at the Pentagon in Washington, US, May 5, 2026.

IDF reservist severely wounded during altercation with terrorist near Bint Jbail

According to Army Radio, two other soldiers were lightly wounded in the incident but did not need to be evacuated to the hospital for treatment.

(ILLUSTRATIVE) AN IDF soldier aiming out of a window in southern Lebanon.