In ‘stormy’ meeting with municipal heads, Netanyahu vows to restore security to the north

In a meeting with municipal heads from cities and towns on Israel’s northern border described as “stormy” by Hebrew media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises to restore security to the area, most of which has been evacuated since October.

Hebrew media sites report that the northern leaders pushed the prime minister during the meeting to give them a date for residents to return to their homes.

“I am not going to tell Hezbollah what we are going to do,” says Netanyahu. “I am not going to share with our sworn enemy the dates and how we are going to do it.”

“We are committed to restoring security, and we will do it,” he vows.

Ynet quotes the head of the Shlomi local council, Gabi Naaman, as saying that it was a “stormy discussion” and that the prime minister had “heard their complaints.”

The forum discussed details of the plan Netanyahu is advancing to fund the reconstruction of the northern border area, which is slated to be brought to the government for approval this week.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.