Israeli forces will not withdraw from south Lebanon or Gaza, Katz says

Israeli forces will not withdraw from south Lebanon or Gaza, Katz says Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israeli forces would not withdraw from what Israel calls its "security zones" in southern Lebanon or Gaza, in a video statement filmed from the Israeli-occupied Beaufort Ridge in Lebanon. Katz's remarks came days after Israeli and Lebanese officials held talks in Rome on implementing a 26 June agreement linking Israel's phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the verified disarmament of Hezbollah. Hezbollah, which is not a party to the agreement, has rejected calls to disarm.