Israel Katz

After public clash with IDF, Katz denies announcing Central Command head's dismissal on live TV

Katz said the appointment process for IDF Personnel Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa to Central Command commander had already been underway for months.

Defense Minister Israel Katz gestures during a plenum session and a vote on a bill to freeze arrests of haredi draft evaders, in Jerusalem, July 14, 2026
Defense Minister Israel Katz attends an emergency conference for the Forum for Judaizing the Galilee on August 2, 2026.

Katz vows 'revolution in settlement' to strengthen Galilee security, Jewish presence in North

Defense Minister Israel Katz attends a conference at Binyanei HaUma (Jerusalem International Convention Center) in Jerusalem, June 17, 2026.

Katz states intent to replace head of IDF Central Command on live TV, IDF denies validity of move

CENTCOM's Adm. Brad Cooper meets with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in Israel, September 6, 2025

IDF denies IDF chief apologized to CENTCOM head after Katz said USAF struck Iran from Israeli bases


Israel Katz boasts of halting detention orders for settlers while permitting detention of Arabs

"Why didn't I sign for the settlers? Because that is not terrorism. Only someone who acts against the security of the state, someone who acts to harm [the state]," the defense minister said.

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attend the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers’ course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026.

Hamas decries Katz's ordering IDF takeover of Palestinian refugee camp in West Bank

Hamas's statement comes after the IDF lifted its ban on Palestinian workers entering Israeli West Bank communities, implemented following the Gilad Farm terror attack on Friday.

Hamas terrorists look on as they escort members of the Red Cross towards an area within the so-called "yellow line" to which Israeli troops withdrew under the ceasefire in Gaza City November 12, 2025.

Netanyahu putting election interests ahead of curbing settler violence, Nablus governor to 'Post'

Nablus Governor Ghassan Douglas told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu is avoiding action against violent settlers ahead of elections, warning of further West Bank escalation.

 IDF soldiers operate in the village of Tell, near the West Bank city of Nablus, July 25, 2026.

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.

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

"We do not wait for missiles to fall or for the enemy to knock on our door before getting ready," Lt. Col. Ella Waweya said.

Maj. Ella Waweya, the new Arabic language spokesperson.

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

Western intelligence assessments suggest Iran may seek to draw Israel into a confrontation and could even choose to act first, Ynet reported on Thursday.

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

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

Defense minister tries to veto IDF Central Command Chief Avi Bluth from using restraining orders on alleged Jewish extremists after already blocking administrative detention.

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.

'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.