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Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS-IL on 15 September, 2024
‘No Communities Left’: Northern Israeli Leaders Warn of Crisis as Rocket Fire Intensifies
Jerusalem, 15 September, 2024 (TPS) -- Residents of northern Israeli communities under daily Hezbollah rocket barrages hosted a delegation of Knesset lawmakers on Sunday to highlight the toll the war has taken on their communities.
“We’re paying a price today that we didn’t fully address in 2006 or 2015,” Avihai Stern, Mayor of Kiryat Shmona, told the MKs with frustration. “If we don’t address it now, we risk facing even greater challenges in the future.”
A delegation of eight Knesset members from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and from the Land of Israel Caucus visited Kiryat Shmona, Safed and Merom HaGalil to meet with local leaders and residents.
Nearly 80,000 Israelis were forced to evacuate their homes near the Lebanon border when Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones in October. Hezbollah leaders have said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes. The attacks have killed 26 civilians and 20 soldiers on the Israeli side.
A meeting of government ministers scheduled for Monday is expected to declare the return of evacuees to their homes a formal war goal.
Over 85% of Kiryat Shmona’s population has been evacuated due to intense rocket fire from Hezbollah. Since the onset of the war, around 21,000 of the city’s 24,000 residents have been dispersed among 223 hotels from the north to Eilat.
Stern, who has stayed behind with approximately 3,000 residents, described to the lawmakers a situation of damaged homes, hundreds of burned vehicles, and wrecked educational facilities.
“I intend to stay in Kiryat Shmona and help all the residents cope with the situation here. But it’s not possible to address this issue in the current circumstances,” he said, referring to the government’s “Containment Policy.” He was referring to a government decision to absorb rocket fire and limit retaliation without wider escalation. The MKs, including committee chairman Yuli Edelstein and Limor Son Har-Melech, and Simcha Rothman who co-chair the caucus with Edelstein, all responded by acknowledging, “It’s our fault.”
Unable to host the delegation in Metula, David Azoulai, head of the Metula council joined the gathering in Kiryat Shmona.
“We’re a year into this situation, and we have no communities left,” said Azoulai. “This year, I didn’t open any schools — there are none. From Yesud HaMa’ala in the north to Beer-Sheva, all the residents of Metula are scattered. It’s not logical; it can’t be like this.”
The region is also facing a significant population exodus, with surveys indicating that about 40% of displaced Kiryat Shmona residents may not return, raising concerns about long-term economic and social stability. Additionally, the relocation of key industries, such as Elbit Systems, and the loss of startup infrastructure pose potential economic downturn risks.
Azoulai called for immediate and decisive government action, a more aggressive military strategy, and a comprehensive plan to address the safety and infrastructure needs of the northern communities.
“The time for talking is over. We need real, actionable plans to protect our citizens and rebuild our communities,” he insisted.
Said Stern, “We don’t have the luxury of waiting two more years for a resolution. We need immediate action to prevent further deterioration and to ensure that our residents have a future here.”
Since October 8, Hezbollah has launched more than 6,700 rockets and drones.
Israeli officials have been calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
