Israeli Minister Alkin Vows to Hold Security Zone Until Hezbollah Disarms in Lebanon

In a detailed interview on the "Iron Dome" program hosted by Netanel Izak on the Soragim website, Ze'ev Elkin, Minister in the Finance Ministry responsible for northern and southern rehabilitation, outlined his strategic approach combining security, settlement, and politics. As a member of the Security Cabinet, Elkin discussed the shifting balance with Iran and Hezbollah, unveiled multi-billion shekel plans for northern Israel's recovery, and celebrated what he called a "historic revolution" in Judea and Samaria.

Elkin praised the firm stance of the U.S. administration against Iran, highlighting the reinstatement of sanctions and the cancellation of oil sanctions as significant blows to the Iranian regime. He credited Prime Minister Netanyahu for skillfully aligning Israeli interests with those of U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Elkin described as the most Israel-friendly American president in two decades.

Addressing the security situation in southern Lebanon, Elkin emphasized that Israel will maintain the security zone established there until Hezbollah is fully disarmed throughout Lebanon. He described the extensive destruction of Hezbollah's infrastructure in border villages, stating that areas like Bint Jbeil have been flattened, preventing Hezbollah's return and marking a dramatic long-term change.

Regarding northern rehabilitation, Elkin announced a budget of 14.5 billion shekels dedicated to revitalizing the region, including the establishment of a university in Kiryat Shmona and the Galilee. He projected that Katzrin will become the first Israeli city in the Golan Heights within five years, growing to 20,000 residents. Despite criticism over the pace of rehabilitation, Elkin assured that significant investments are underway in education and urban renewal.

On the settlement front, Elkin, a resident of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, described a remarkable expansion in Judea and Samaria, with over 100 new or officially recognized settlements established in the past two years. Politically, ahead of the Likud primaries, he stressed balancing new leadership with experienced figures and criticized the legal proceedings against Netanyahu, particularly the bribery charge in Case 4000, which he said undermined broader government formation and harmed Israel.

Elkin concluded by urging the religious Zionist community to take a leading role in Israel's governance, recalling his own background in the Har Etzion yeshiva and as secretary-general of Bnei Akiva in the former Soviet Union. He asserted that religious Zionism has evolved from a connecting link to a spearhead in Israeli society.