At a defense industry conference in Tel Aviv earlier today, Israel's new Defense Minister Israel Katz laid out his vision for enforcing the fragile new ceasefire with Hezbollah.
"The next 60 days will tell us everything," Katz declared. His words carried the weight of both victory and caution as he described how Israeli forces had delivered crushing blows to Hezbollah, destroying their missile systems and underground tunnels while decimating their leadership structure.
But the real test, Katz insisted, lies ahead. He promised to lead "powerful and uncompromising enforcement" of the ceasefire terms.
The Defense Minister also addressed the economic recovery of Israel's north. In a direct challenge to the Finance Minister, he demanded generous funding to revitalize the region. "Open the state's wallet," he urged, drawing on his experience handling the COVID-19 crisis as former Finance Minister. "We need to transform the Galilee into a flourishing region that attracts young families."
Looking south to Gaza, Katz connected the dots between the northern campaign's success and the ongoing efforts to free the hostages held by Hamas. "Our achievements against Hezbollah put extra pressure on Hamas," he said, emphasizing that bringing every hostage home remains "our highest moral duty."
For Katz, the true measure of success won't just be in military achievements or diplomatic agreements. "We'll know we've succeeded," he said, "when families return home and young Israelis choose to build their future in the Galilee."
Kikar Shabbat contributed to this article.