In northern Israel, kibbutz residents are very close to the border with Lebanon where the war with Hezbollah rages. However, they are too far away to be evacuated because their homes are beyond the five kilometer zone.
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Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon where a thousand people have died since the Israeli offensive on September 23. At the same time, Hezbollah continues to send rockets into northern Israel where 68,000 people have been evacuated for almost a year. This includes the entire area five kilometers from the border with Lebanon. Beyond that, residents are forced to stay because the government does not give them compensation like in the kibbutz of Kfar Szold where 500 residents live on the outskirts of Lebanon.
In this kibbutz, Annath’s garden overlooks the mountains from where you can see a Lebanese village. “Often, we see Lebanon’s missiles in the sky, the iron dome which comes to intercept themsays Annath. It’s like fireworks.” And in recent weeks, with Israeli strikes intensifying, immense columns of smoke have been billowing far away. Explosions echo throughout the valley.
But this general practitioner resigned herself: “I’m afraid but I stay because my job is here and also because we bought a house and we have a loan to repay and we don’t receive compensation.”
“We can’t afford to move, have the whole family move to another place and finance all of that with credit and other expenses, it’s too heavy.”
Annath, Israeliat franceinfo
The government has set the evacuation zone at five kilometers from the border. Below, residents receive compensation, the equivalent of 50 euros per day per adult, plus around twenty euros per child. But this village with modern houses is located 500 meters beyond. Due to lack of money, Shula must stay at home, despite the warning sirens that constantly ring out. “I don’t have a secure room in my house The nearest shelter is a three-minute walk away and we only have 15 seconds to take shelter. So my hallway is the safest place.”
Shula has no illusions, despite the intensification of fighting, the authorities will not extend the evacuation zone. “I don’t think they can do it because they would have to do the same thing all over western Galilee. There would be so many more people to finance, so much money has been spent on the war. Everything is question of money”, she summarizes. Israel has already spent well over 50 billion euros since the start of the war.