“Israel” Stuck in Limbo Over Security in North: No Place to Return To

By Staff, Agencies

The mayor of "Kiryat Shmona" Avichai Stern confirmed that “'Israel' is still stuck in limbo in terms of security in the north," asserting that the "Israeli" occupation "has not learned its lessons.”

In an interview for "Israel's" Kan Channel on Friday, Stern noted that only 50% of settlers have returned to “Kiryat Shmona” and just 30% of businesses have resumed operations.

According to “Yedioth Ahronoth”, many settlers remain hesitant to return to the north due to a prevalent state of insecurity and a lack of basic services.

David Azoulay, head of the “Metula" Council, echoed these concerns, warning that "there is no place to return,” emphasizing that absorbing settlers again is currently unfeasible.

Azoulay further took a swing at "Israeli" ministers for prematurely encouraging returns. “It is impossible to declare a return when there is no basic infrastructure to maintain community life,” he stressed.

It is worth noting that "Israeli" Channel 14's website reported in February that the estimated damage in “Israeli" settlements within the evacuated area in northern occupied Palestine amounts to approximately 9 billion “shekels” [over $2.5 billion], with around 2,900 buildings affected by war with Lebanon.

According to the plan presented by Likud Knesset member Ze'ev Elkin, who is responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of the north, direct damages are estimated at around 5.5 billion “shekels”, while indirect damages amount to 3.5 billion “shekels”. Additionally, 103 educational institutions in the evacuated northern area, covering 43 settlements within 3.5 kilometers of the Lebanese-Palestinian border, sustained damage.

Among these settlements is "Metula", whose council head, David Azoulay, reiterated that it is impossible to receive settlers there, stating, "There is no place to return to."

Azoulay criticized the conduct of "Israeli" ministers, asserting that "it is impossible to announce a return when there is no basic infrastructure to sustain community life."

In this regard, he highlighted that over 70% of housing units in "Metula" have been damaged, with 50% in such poor condition that they are uninhabitable.