Israel Katz is an Israeli lawmaker and member of the Likud Party. He currently serves as the country's defense minister, having previously served as this government's foreign minister and energy minister.
Katz has served many other ministerial roles in the past, specifically as transportation minister, agriculture minister, intelligence minister, and finance minister.
He is considered a hardliner in Israeli politics regarding peace and security, supporting settlements and West Bank annexation, but has also advocated for the establishment of an autonomous Palestinian entity.
Blitstein, currently Defense Ministry deputy director-general, previously served as director-general of the foreign ministry and energy ministry, respectively, among other senior positions.
Katz had earlier sent a message to the Lebanese government that Lebanon must enforce the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, or Israel will continue to strike the country.
Hundreds of Gazans march in rare anti-Hamas protest • Katz, Zamir meet to work in cooperation following public clash
With the country on the cusp of sending troops and reservists back into full battle, Israel's leadership must get its act together.
"We are working together in full cooperation for the security of Israel – as it has been and as it will always be," the two said.
Israel Katz made a misstep by publicly advocating to fire the IDF's military attorney-general.
“The defense minister issues directives to the chief of staff, who is subordinate to the political echelon, as he sees fit,” Katz said.
Zamir rejected claims made by Katz regarding the investigation of Brig-Gen. (res.) Oron Solomon, calling them "false and baseless."
The Defense Ministry announced that Maj.-Gen. (res) Amir Baram has been appointed as the 26th director-general of the ministry.
Tel Sultan is where the IDF killed former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and a location where many hostages were kept.
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