No threat from Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria allowed: Israeli minister
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"Israel" refuses to withdraw from Syrian territory, including Mount Hermon, as Education Minister Yoav Kisch outlines firm stance during Channel 14 interview.
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Israeli soldiers work on tanks at a staging area on the border with the Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 (AP)
"Israel" will not accept a reality in which there are forces that could pose danger to the entity, whether in Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria, said Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch on Saturday, affirming that "Israel' will continue to occupy territories in the region.
Speaking to Israeli Channel 14, Kisch stated, “We are saying today that we will not accept it in Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria. We are not willing to find ourselves behind a fence, facing forces that could put us in danger, as was the case before.”
He added, “I don’t know the details of this agreement or any others," referring to ongoing talks with Syria’s transitional authorities aimed at a possible security or political arrangement, “but it is certainly clear that there must be no threat to Israel beyond the border.”
When asked about the potential withdrawal of Israeli forces from Syrian territory, Kisch reiterated "Israel’s" "firm refusal to sit behind a fence and wait to see what happens,” noting that he is unaware of any topics or amendments that might be included.
'Israel' won't budge from Syria: Channel 14
Meanwhile, Channel 14 reported that "Israel" will not budge in Syria and will not withdraw from the Hermon summit area (Mount Hermon), including several points not far from Damascus.
“We are not going to embrace the Syrian transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, even if Trump were to do so," it added, while claiming that any military agreements could be aimed at assisting the Druze or ensuring security for residents in northern "Israel".
Channel 14 noted that “the Russians are still in Syria, and many interests are involved, including the Kurds, the American presence, the Turks, and numerous other actors,” emphasizing that “Israel will not be the one paying the price.”
Israel nibbling on surrounding borders
As of 2025, "Israel" maintains a fortified and expanding military presence across several fronts in the region. In Lebanon, despite the November 2024 ceasefire, Israeli forces have refused full withdrawal and continue to occupy five strategic positions inside southern Lebanese territory.
These include elevated posts and military outposts near Aitaroun, Kfar Shouba, and Rmeish, areas lying beyond the Blue Line. The occupation has also constructed a concrete wall extending over 4,000 square meters into Lebanese territory near Yaroun, restricting local residents’ access and prompting condemnation from UNIFIL.
In Syria, "Israel" not only retains control over the occupied Golan Heights, but has bolstered its military presence around Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Shaykh), a high-altitude zone near the Syrian-Lebanese border. Reports indicate that "Israeli" forces are stationed at several newly reinforced points in the Hermon summit area, including territories within striking distance of Damascus.
