Heads of rocket-struck areas in north blackballed by Netanyahu

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with some local leaders from northern Israel seeking to reassure them following rocket attacks, the heads of three heavily affected local councils say they were not invited to the talks and only heard of them through the media.

The mayors of Metulla, Shlomi and the Mateh Asher Regional Council say they were not contacted, despite taking much of the rocket fire Thursday. According to Channel 12 news, the three met Saturday with National Unity head Benny Gantz, who traveled to the north in solidarity following the attacks last week.

“I really hope there was not some sort of selection of which local leaders the prime minister chose to talk to,” writes Mateh Asher head Moshe Davidovich, whose work as head of a group lobbying for more funding for bomb shelters and other defensive means has brought him into occasional conflict with the government.

Gabi Ne’eman, mayor of the border town of Shlomi, which saw a number of rockets land adjacent, tells Ynet he was surprised and “very disappointed” to not hear from Netanyahu or Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Metulla Mayor David Azulay tells the news site he just wants the government to keep its promises.

A spokesperson for Netanyahu tells Channel 12 that the premier’s office tried to get in touch with the three, but they did not pick up the phone. However, the channel reports that there were no missed calls to the relevant authorities.