Katz: Israel will never leave Gaza, expand settlements in West Bank, displace Palestinians Israeli defence minister Israel Katz on Thursday said that Israel will never leave Gaza's territory and that the West Bank would see more settlements, military bases and Palestinian expulsion. "Israel will never leave Gaza's territory," he said. "There will be a significant security zone that will surround Gaza in controlled places to protect the settlement." "In the northern part, it will be possible, in my view, to establish Nahal outposts in an orderly manner when the time comes," he said, referring to the military service in which soldiers combine active duty with work on outlying settlements or outposts. While speaking at an education conference held by Zionist newspaper Makor Rishon, Katz said regarding the West Bank: "...we are implementing a policy of practical sovereignty there. It is impossible now, due to the circumstances, to declare sovereignty. Practical sovereignty means ... [evacuating] the Palestinians from the terror camps and stationing the Israel Defense Forces there, and establishing settlements."