Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz declared that Israel will continue confronting Iran and its regional proxies while making clear that any future Israeli participation in American military operations against Tehran would depend on a request from President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a conference of the Likud Group headed by Ofer Ayubi in Yerushalayim, Katz addressed a wide range of security, diplomatic, and domestic issues, emphasizing that Israel remains focused on achieving its strategic goals through military strength and close coordination with the United States.
“We want to continue moving forward, promote significant initiatives, and act in creative and unconventional ways to achieve the goals we have set,” he said.
Katz said Israel’s alliance with the United States remains one of the country’s most important strategic assets, noting that senior Israeli officials recently met with members of the Trump administration to deepen cooperation and strengthen coordination between the two governments.
He also praised President Trump for his continued backing of Israel and expressed confidence that the administration’s approach would ultimately be recognized as the correct one.
“I believe Trump will continue to lead the policy he has declared, and ultimately the world will understand that there is no real alternative to this path,” Katz said.
Turning to Iran, Katz said Israel remains committed to confronting threats wherever they emerge, whether directly from Tehran or through Iranian-backed terror proxies operating throughout the Middle East.
“In Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and everywhere else, there is no quiet. We continue to act to ensure the security of the State of Israel,” he said.
The defense minister said Israel’s two strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities marked a historic turning point and significantly degraded the regime’s nuclear capabilities.
“We destroyed Iran’s nuclear program and removed an existential threat to the State of Israel. Now our responsibility is to ensure that they cannot rebuild it,” he said.
Katz revealed that long before those operations were launched, Israel’s defense establishment had already begun preparing for the possibility of carrying out additional strikes if Iran attempted to restore its nuclear program.
“We knew that Ali Khamenei would try to restore Iran’s nuclear program and military capabilities, and therefore we instructed the IDF to be prepared for another strike if necessary,” he said.
He praised the IDF for what he described as its highly effective performance during the campaign and credited the unprecedented military cooperation between Israel and the United States as a major strategic achievement.
“Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu succeeded in doing something no one before him had achieved-bringing the United States to act alongside Israel against Iran. Together we delivered a severe blow to the Iranian regime,” he said.
Katz said Israel continues monitoring developments across the region, including issues affecting maritime trade routes and the Strait of Hormuz.
“If the Iranians strike us, we will respond with full force. That is our policy, and it is absolutely clear. We inflicted severe damage on Iran’s military and strategic infrastructure. Anyone wondering what happened there-the answer is simple: Iran suffered a very heavy blow.”
He added that Israel would participate in any future American strikes against Iran only “if Trump asks.”
Reflecting on the October 7 massacre, Katz said the attack permanently transformed Israel’s national security doctrine and ended any possibility of returning to previous policies toward terrorist organizations.
“In the past, we were told that limited operations were enough, that we could allow workers from Gaza to enter Israel and continue with routine life. Today there are no longer any such dilemmas,” Katz said. “We see the reality on the ground-there is no going back to what existed before October 7.”
According to Katz, the IDF now follows a doctrine centered on maintaining security control over areas from which terrorist threats can emerge, rather than waiting to respond after attacks occur.
“The IDF’s role is to protect Israeli residents from the other side of the border, not to wait for the enemy to reach our communities. We protect Israel’s citizens and do not rely on anyone else’s guarantees.”
He said that strategy is now being implemented in Gaza, southern Lebanon, Syria, and throughout Judea and Samaria, stressing that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from strategically important areas where its military presence is needed to prevent terrorists from regrouping.
Discussing operations in Judea and Samaria, Katz noted that Israeli forces have conducted extensive operations inside the refugee camps of Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm—the first such large-scale operations there since the Six-Day War.
“We dismantled the terrorist infrastructure, evacuated a large portion of the population from the combat zones, and the IDF has remained on the ground to prevent the terrorists from returning,” he said.
Katz said the new strategy is already producing measurable results.
“We are seeing an approximately 80 percent decline in terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria. That is the result of a clear policy-not simply entering and leaving, but maintaining control of the area for as long as necessary. And if needed, we will act in additional locations as well.”
The defense minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, saying recent cabinet decisions reflected that commitment.
“We are strengthening not only security but also settlement. The government has approved the establishment of 104 new communities in Judea and Samaria, along with approximately 160 new farms. This is an unprecedented move that reflects our commitment to strengthening Israel’s presence in the region,” he said.
Closing his remarks, Katz vowed that Israel would continue implementing its post-October 7 security doctrine and would not permit terrorist organizations to regain footholds near its borders.
“We will not return to the reality that led to October 7. We will act wherever necessary to ensure the security of the citizens of Israel.”
Katz also turned briefly to domestic policy, saying the government remains committed to completing its judicial reform agenda.
“We will complete the judicial reform,” he said.
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