Netanyahu Draws Red Lines on Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon: 'Israel's Security Is Not Up for Negotiation'

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu rejected reports of Israeli retreat on Sunday, reaffirming the country's commitment to its security interests. He stated that Israel will not permit Palestinian statehood in Gaza or Judea and Samaria and will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu addressed what he called "a wave of rumors about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts." Regarding Iran, he noted an apparent pattern: "You have surely noticed an interesting point: Iran attacks all the countries in the region, and even outside the region, but there is one country it does not attack, the State of Israel. It has not attacked thus far; it might attack, but why have long weeks passed and it has not attacked us? Because it knows the massive blow we will inflict upon it if it does so."

Netanyahu expressed appreciation for President Donald Trump's cooperation on the Iranian nuclear issue. "I greatly appreciate President Trump. He is the greatest of our friends in the White House," He said, adding: "With or without an agreement, as long as I am Prime Minister, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. Because the existence of our precious country, the country of all of us, the existence of Israel, is not up for negotiation."

On Lebanon, Netanyahu reported that Israel has continued military operations against terrorist targets, including recent activity on the Ali Taher Ridge. "In recent days, Israel has acted with force in Lebanon, eliminating terrorists, including on the Ali Taher ridge," He stated.

Regarding Palestinian statehood, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition: "As long as I am Prime Minister, a Palestinian state will not be established, neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria."

Netanyahu clarified that Israel has not accepted the 15-point Gaza framework proposed by Trump's Board of Peace, stating emphatically: "Israel does not accept the 15-point document." He stressed that the IDF will remain in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, saying: "The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed. And when I say the disarming of Hamas, it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry. We are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament."

He noted ongoing discussions with the United States, observing that while some American proposals are acceptable, others are not. Netanyahu concluded by affirming Israel's position: "The existence of Israel and the security of all Israeli citizens are not up for negotiation."