33% northern settlers refuse to return, slam 'unfulfilled promises'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
15 Dec 2024 22:33

A report indicates that Israeli settlers "who were not evacuated from the north say their economic situation is worse than those who were displaced."

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This picture taken during a media tour organized by the local council in the northern settlement of Metulla near the Lebanese frontier, on December 9, 2024, shows a residence that was damaged (AFP)

50% of Israeli settlers in northern occupied Palestine are taking sedatives, 33% do not want to return to their residences, and 36% of the displaced are receiving psychological therapy, the Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing the Tel-Hai Academic College.

Channel 12 concluded from the findings that settlers in the north do not accept the security assurances provided by the Israeli military, pointing out that very few have returned to their residences so far.

According to the Israeli channel, this percentage has risen by approximately 20% compared to eight months ago when a similar study was conducted, showing only 13% at the time.

The report also indicated that settlers "who were not evacuated from the north say their economic situation is worse than those who were displaced."

Moreover, 50% of northern residents, across all demographics, reported starting to take sedatives and sleeping pills over the past year.

Additionally, 36% of displaced residents and 24% of those who remained in their residences are seeing a psychologist.

Channel 12 also highlighted the concerns of northern settlers, reporting that "residents are deeply worried about the future, even if they do not return to their homes," adding that they are also frustrated with "unfulfilled promises and are waiting for tangible actions on the ground."

Earlier, the media outlet reported that data on the destruction in northern settlements show that 2,585 residences were damaged, including 1,000 with major damage, as a result of Hezbollah fire launched from Lebanon.

Hundreds of damaged houses in Shlomi, settlers not back yet: Israeli media

Israeli media had previously reported that hundreds of residence units in the settlement of Shlomi in northern occupied Palestine were damaged as a result of the war with Lebanon, adding that settlers would only return "when security is fully restored and all minor and major violations of the ceasefire are addressed."

The Israeli website Walla reported that before October 7, 2023, the settlement housed 9,000 settlers, nearly all of whom were evacuated in the early days of the war, noting that most of them had not yet returned to their houses.

According to Walla, approximately 500 residences in Shlomi were directly or indirectly damaged, with the local council expressing concern that the full extent of the damage would not be clear until all the settlers returned to their homes.

The Israeli site mentioned that during the war, there were three direct strikes on public buildings and 19 direct hits on private houses, in addition to 16 infrastructure facilities damaged due to fire from Hezbollah and Israeli occupation forces, with over 20 cases of damage to public buildings reported due to their use by Israeli occupation forces.

Walla further reported that about 1,000 housing units—around 40% of the houses in the settlement—still lack emergency shelters.

It is worth mentioning that Israeli media had earlier revealed that the damages in the northern settlements amounted to 5 billion shekels, more than 1.3 billion dollars, due to Hezbollah's operations.