Politicians around the world are calling for a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist militia Hezbollah. But for many residents in northern Israel, which has been under fire for eleven months, a short-term ceasefire would only mean one thing: that Hezbollah would not be deterred – and could open fire again at any time.
For about a week now, Israel has been increasingly taking action against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s weapons depots and military infrastructure under the name “Arrows of the North”.
After eleven countries (including Germany) and the EU Israel and Hezbollah called for a 21-day ceasefire, residents from Israel’s north are now speaking out.
Israeli rescue workers at the scene of a Hezbollah rocket attack in northern Israel
Photo: JACK GUEZ/AFP
“Blood will be on your hands”
▶︎ Rafael Slab, one of the heads of the residents’ headquarters in Israel’s north, told the Israeli newspaper “Israel Hayom“It is impossible that after a year of complete lawlessness in the north, a week after we had hope of a return home and some national pride, we are already abandoning the strength of the IDF and seeking a political solution.”
“Whoever signs a political agreement now will have the blood of those murdered in the next massacre in the north on their hands,” Slab continued.
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▶︎ Ma’ayan Benizri makes it clear to “Israel Hayom”: “We, the residents of the north, are not ready for a ceasefire. A ceasefire means the blood of the people of the north will continue to flow. We will not return home unless Hezbollah is defeated!”
The fear: that Hezbollah will use a ceasefire to regroup and strike again.
Israeli security forces cordon off a house in Haifa, northern Israel, after Hezbollah rocket fire
Photo: JACK GUEZ/AFP
No ceasefire! Fighting continues “at full strength”
Despite strong speculation that Israel might agree to the ceasefire, the government in Jerusalem initially rejected the plan.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz (69) declared on battle”.
▶︎ The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (74) announced that the head of government had instructed the army to “continue fighting at full strength, in accordance with the plans presented to him”.
Netanyahu arrives in New York on Thursday and will give a speech to the UN General Assembly on Friday, which is highly anticipated given the current situation.
Trails of smoke can be seen after Israel’s missile defense system intercepted rockets fired from Lebanon in northern Israel
Photo: David Cohen/JINI via XinHua/dpa
An Israeli fighter jet is seen in the skies of Haifa, northern Israel
Photo: Baz Ratner/AP/dpa
