Mayor of Israeli border town accuses government of ‘failing’ to protect residents

ISTANBUL

The mayor of the northern Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of failing to protect residents during the war, saying he feels Israel, not the Lebanese group Hezbollah, is “fighting” him.

Avichai Stern told a forum of government ministry directors on Wednesday that the state had not provided adequate protection for civilians living near the Lebanese border.

“It doesn’t matter how we end the war in Lebanon or Iran. If we lose a city inside Israel, it will be the first time that happens,” Stern said, according to Israeli media, including I24News.

He said about 10,000 residents remain in Kiryat Shmona and questioned whether they could endure current conditions.

“You expect them to stay in this grim reality for a month, or you don’t even know how long. Do you think they will remain there?” he said.

Since March 2, Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones toward northern Israeli settlements in response to what it described as renewed Israeli attacks on Lebanon, parts of which Israel has occupied for decades.

Stern criticized Israeli officials, warning that evacuating residents would hand Hezbollah a victory.

“They tell me it would be a victory for Hezbollah if people are evacuated. I think its victory would be if a city in Israel disappears, not if residents leave,” he said.

He added that thousands of homes lack basic fortification.

“I have 4,700 apartments without protection, what kind of Israeli victory is that?” Stern said. “You don’t send a soldier into battle without body armor, so why place civilians on the front line without protection?”

Stern said providing security is a fundamental duty of the state.

“This is the bare minimum, the basic relationship between a state and its citizens is to provide safety. You have failed,” he said.

He also questioned emergency preparedness.

“How do you expect someone on the third floor to reach a shelter within 10 seconds?” he said, referring to limited access to safe rooms near the Lebanese border.

In a sarcastic remark, Stern added: “Should I go ask Hezbollah for a ceasefire so I can evacuate residents by helicopter? Do I need to speak to them instead of my own state?”

He also rejected claims that Kiryat Shmona had received sufficient government funding.

“They go on television and say Kiryat Shmona received money but doesn’t know how to use it. Here are all the Finance Ministry officials, what money have I received? You know the answer: there are decisions, but no funds,” he said.

“I wake up every morning feeling as if Israel is fighting me, not Hezbollah or Iran,” he added.

Lebanese authorities say Israeli attacks have killed 1,094 people, wounded 3,119 others, and displaced more than 1 million.

Israeli authorities say retaliatory attacks by Iran and Hezbollah have killed 18 people and wounded 5,045 in Israel, while providing limited details about additional losses.

Israel occupies parts of Lebanon, as well as Palestinian territories and land in Syria, and has rejected calls to withdraw or establish an independent Palestinian state.

* Writing by Lina Altawell.