'Blood of northern settlers on Netanyahu's hands,' Israelis cry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
25 Nov 2024 20:06

Northern settlers accuse Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning them by striking a ceasefire deal with Lebanon without guaranteeing their safety.

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A man looks at a damaged window of a house following an attack from Lebanon, in Akka, north Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. (AP)

Settlers in northern occupied Palestine expressed their anger toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid discussions of an agreement on the northern front with Lebanon.

Israeli settlers criticized Netanyahu's claims of achieving a "decisive victory" while sharing videos showing Hezbollah fighters in the background, accusing him of making empty promises and abandoning them, saying "The blood of northern residents will be on your hands."

In a related context, Moshe Davidovich, the head of the Mate Asher Regional Council stated that Netanyahu's government was "making agreements over our heads, without ensuring our safe return, which is the most important thing," stressing that northern settlers wish to live safely but have been failed by the government.

Speaking to Israeli Channel 12, Davidovich said that the war has brought utmost destruction on northern settlements, as roads are destroyed, havoc has been wreaked on settlers' lives, the settlements' tourism, economy, and agriculture.

Earlier, Amos Harel, Haaretz' military affairs analyst, also criticized the situation in the north, stating that "while ceasefire negotiations in Lebanon continue, settlers' sense of personal security is being undermined by the increasing frequency of shelling from Lebanon and its daily extension into central Israel."

"The bottom line is clear: life in the north remains completely disrupted, while daily disturbances are also spreading toward the center," he said.

'Endless nightmare'

Israeli media has described the situation in northern occupied Palestine as an "endless nightmare," with settlers grappling with fear, frustration, and an unbearable routine of life "between [air raid] warnings."

According to Yedioth Ahronoth journalist Roi Kais, northern settlers hear news of progress in negotiations and Israeli efforts to settle the war on Lebanon. Yet, their daily reality remains dominated by warnings and evacuations.

On Friday evening, a single drone hovering for about an hour forced tens of thousands into shelters until it exploded. The affected areas stretched from western al-Jalil, Nahariya, and Akka to the Krayot and the Carmel regions. "No one sees an end in sight," Kais remarked.

For many settlers, this has become an unbearable routine involving exchanges of fire and rockets launched from Lebanon into western Galilee and Haifa. A Nahariya settler, who sought shelter during Friday's sudden alarms, spoke of widespread trauma. "We're all suffering. Even the dogs now instinctively run to the shelter," he said.

"One moment, everything changes," he added. "Seven phones issued alerts simultaneously during dinner, and from there, it all begins."

Kais also highlighted the challenges of life in shelters, describing it as deeply frustrating and mentally taxing. Settlers report pressure, division, and mounting despair, with rocket shrapnel causing damage to cars and gardens.