Northern settlers' return to residences could take years: Deputy mayor

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Nov 2024 16:25

As Lebanese people flocked to their homes along the borders the moment the ceasefire took effect, Israeli settlers of northern occupied Palestine have yet to return.

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Israeli army inspecting the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern occupied Palestine, on November 26, 2024 (AP)

Settlers of northern occupied Palestine will eventually return to their settlements, though the process of rebuilding the area could take years, said Alex Karachun, deputy mayor of the northern Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona, in an interview with RIA Novosti on Friday.

"Ultimately, the government will bring us back because if they don't, we risk losing our borders. The residents are determined and plan to return, although we know it may take one, two, or even three years," Karachun said.

He added that all wars eventually lead to some form of agreement and that the Israeli government must secure a reliable pact to ensure the safety of northern settlers.

"An agreement will come eventually, but it must guarantee our security at home, ensuring that no one can look into our windows from across the border," Karachun stressed.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the deputy mayor emphasized that this particular war has been unlike any "Israel" has faced before, making the rebuilding process longer than usual.

Extensive damage with at least 2,874 direct hits across north 'Israel'

Israeli media confirmed that the extent of the damage caused by Hezbollah's operations over the past months is becoming clearer as some settlers return to the north, where frustration prevails among local authorities and residents.

In this context, "Israel's" Channel 12 reported data from the Ministry of Security, revealing 2,874 direct hits by Hezbollah fire in settlements along the "frontline with Lebanon," stretching from Kiryat Shmona in the al-Jalil Panhandle to Rosh Hanikra in western al-Jalil.

The occupation's Property Tax Authority recorded damage to 9,000 buildings and over 7,000 vehicles, all completely destroyed by Hezbollah fire in northern Israeli-occupied settlements.

However, these figures exclude many unreported damages in the north due to settler displacement or because some affected areas remain off-limits by order of the Israeli occupation forces.

In the same context, Channel 12 highlighted the "severe frustration among Israelis and local authorities in the north," noting the lack of an organized plan for the return of settlers.

Hedar Getsis, Channel 12’s northern correspondent, emphasized the existence of "significant gaps in fortifications."

Getsis added that the government has provided no support for the north or its future, stating that "no decision has been made about what will happen after" the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation.

He explained that "no budget has been approved for frontline settlements," where basic facilities like schools remain unprepared, adding that "there will be no schooling tomorrow in all these settlements and in the Golan Heights."

In Nahariya and settlements in western and upper al-Jalil, close to the border, which were not entirely evacuated, there is an "intolerable routine, with business owners crying out daily that they will shut down."

Channel 12's military correspondent, Nir Dvori, noted that the situation in the north, particularly from Haifa toward the border, remains under previous restrictions. He added that there are estimates of "potential developments," which means "no return to normalcy."

Israeli soldiers and reservists have voiced frustration and disappointment regarding the recent ceasefire with Lebanon amid broader discontent within military ranks over what many perceive as a lack of long-term strategy.

Corporal First Class Omer Ben Hamo of the Yiftach Brigade expressed his surprise and concern about the agreement, stating, "This endangers our lives for the sake of temporary calm. Maintaining the situation as it is reflects neglect. [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] knows he hasn't completed the mission."

"The enemy hasn't rested and is improving. We've sacrificed a lot, but I don't understand this agreement. Why did we fight? To destroy a tunnel they will rebuild? You sent me to fight an enemy or infrastructure. I know my son will serve in reserve duty there because we refuse to solve the problem," he added.

The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that this frustration is shared by many among the reservists.

Captain Omer Feldman, an artillery officer in the armored battalion who has served over 200 days in reserve duty, half of them in the north, also criticized the situation. She remarked, "It must be said that absolute victory does not exist on any front. Hezbollah's leadership, which faced defeat, will rebuild itself."

"Lebanese citizens have returned to their homes, while our citizens are still living in hotels. This is a testimony to failure—a political game at our expense," she added.