Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch has given a wide-ranging interview to Israel’s Maariv newspaper, where he said war with Hezbollah is both necessary and inevitable for the sake of Israel’s security, Al Jazeera reports.

“The big question is not whether there will be war, but when and how,” Kisch told Maariv, noting that it will take place when Israel is ready politically and militarily.

Asked whether the US was influencing Israel’s stance, Kisch noted that while the US is Israel’s “best friend”, the two states do not see eye to eye on everything and that Israel must ultimately act to protect its security.