Defense Minister Katz: Iran Could Attack On Jewish Holidays, They Hate Jews

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that he does not recognize the term “Jewish terrorism,” arguing that terrorism should be defined as violence directed against the State of Israel.

Speaking at the “Time for Decision” conference organized by the Yedioth Ahronoth Group and the Israel Democracy Institute, Katz was asked by journalist Moran Azulay about Jewish perpetrators of violence in Samaria villages.

“There is no Jewish terrorism. I canceled the term,” Katz said. “Terrorism is someone who acts against the State of Israel.”

Asked specifically about Jewish rioters who attack Palestinians in Samaria villages, Katz replied: “This is violence, and anyone who commits crimes should be punished. Anyone who committed crimes is in prison.”

Katz’s remarks come amid continuing controversy in Israel over how authorities should characterize and respond to violence by Jewish extremists against Palestinians in Judia and Samaria. The defense minister has previously opposed the use of administrative detention against Jewish extremists, while critics have accused the government of failing to adequately confront settler violence.

The terminology has also become a significant political issue. Israeli politicians, former security officials and other public figures have increasingly referred to severe attacks by Jewish extremists as “Jewish terrorism,” while Katz has consistently rejected that terminology.

Turning to the war in Gaza, Katz said Israel would not be able to achieve a genuine long-term solution without large-scale emigration of Gaza residents. “There is no real solution without real emigration from there,” he said.

Katz claimed that 80% of Gaza residents want to leave and said Israel has prepared mechanisms for facilitating departures by air, sea and land. “Everything is ready for emigration — by air, by sea and by land,” Katz said. “Egypt is not willing for it to take place through its territory. At the moment, it is delayed because the receiving countries are not willing for it to happen without American support for them.”

The figures cited by Katz appear to refer to an Israeli survey of Gaza residents that the government has previously cited in promoting its policy of what it calls “voluntary emigration.” Gila Gamliel and other Israeli officials have previously said that an Israeli government directorate was established to facilitate such departures and that a survey found approximately 80% of respondents expressing a desire to leave Gaza.

Katz has repeatedly advocated the policy. In May, he said Israel’s plan for “voluntary emigration” from Gaza would ultimately be implemented, while emphasizing that Hamas would no longer control the Strip militarily or civilly.

The proposal remains highly controversial internationally, particularly over questions concerning whether Palestinians would genuinely be leaving voluntarily and where they would be resettled.

Katz also addressed the possibility of renewed Iranian attacks against Israel, saying the likelihood of an Iranian strike could increase as international pressure and economic restrictions on Tehran intensify. “Iran likes to attack on Jewish holidays because they hate Jews,” Katz said, pointing to what he described as a pattern of previous Iranian attacks.

He said Israel was prepared both defensively and offensively and was coordinating with the United States. “But there are things such as an attack on Israel that we will not accept,” Katz said. “If they attack because of Lebanon, because of Judea and Samaria, because of Gaza, because they feel like it, our aircraft are ready to take off.”

Katz has repeatedly issued similar warnings in recent months. In July, he said the IDF was prepared to respond with a “crushing blow” if Iran attacked Israel.

He has also previously said that the Israeli military remains prepared to resume offensive operations against Iran, describing the IDF as ready both for defense and offense.

The warning comes amid a rapidly changing regional situation. On Tuesday, September 1, the United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. positions in several countries in the region, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.

Katz’s comments therefore come against the backdrop of an already volatile confrontation involving Israel, Iran and the United States, with Israeli officials repeatedly warning that any direct Iranian attack on Israel would trigger a powerful response.