Israeli settlers yet to reel in from war: Settlement chief
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The head of the Metula settlement underlines that the threat of ATGM still looms for the Israeli occupation, claiming that another October 7 was bound for northern Palestine.
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Municipality workers hang an Israeli flag over a damaged building that was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Kiryat Bialik, northern occupied Palestine, on Sunday, September 22, 2024 (AP)
Israeli media reported growing frustration among settlers of northern settlements, particularly in Nahariya, where locals say they have yet to recover from the previous round of hostilities and are calling for stronger economic support.
According to reports, funding for hotels and financial grants for evacuees will continue until February. The Israeli government is expected to vote Sunday on extending assistance for residents displaced from their homes in the south and north of the country until the end of next month.
David Azulai, head of the Metula settlement council, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for neglecting the concerns of northern settlers. "He doesn’t come to us, he doesn’t talk to us. The cabinet doesn’t talk to us, and the Israeli army communicates with us only minimally," Azulai said.
Speaking to Channel 12, Azulai warned of potential escalations, stating, "No one is deceiving us; October 7 in the north will happen at a time of Hezbollah’s choosing."
Azulai pointed to ongoing security threats, particularly from anti-tank missiles, which he stressed the Israeli occupation forces have yet to neutralize. "They said they would bring residents back to the north safely, but there is no safe return. No one is deceiving us; another October 7 will happen in the north, whether in a year or two. The agreement is not good," he stated.
Azulai further emphasized that it was unsafe to live in the north under current conditions and called for a new approach to ensure long-term security. "If not, another October 7 will occur in the north," he warned.
Trust in IOF eroded
Azoulay earlier in the week expressed concerns to the Israeli newspaper Maariv about the deteriorating security situation in northern "Israel" and the growing distrust in the military, particularly in light of what he described as the "poor agreement with Lebanon."
Addressing the return of settlers to northern areas after their displacement to other regions, Azoulay emphasized that his primary concern was the security threat that remains unresolved.
He further revealed that "more than half of the council's homes were damaged during the war, with some completely destroyed," stressing that the settlement urgently needs "robust infrastructure to attract new residents to replace those who will not return."
Azoulay, who has served in his role for nearly a decade and is a former military officer, pointed out that public trust in the [Israeli] military has eroded significantly since October 7, 2023.
He said that there remains a lack of confidence in the Israeli military, particularly in intelligence capabilities, even with its actions in Lebanon.
