Northern leaders fume, say Israel only launches preemptive strikes to defend Tel Aviv

Leaders of northern communities express anger that Israel’s preemptive strike in southern Lebanon was carried out only when Tel Aviv appeared to be threatened, in interviews and statements this morning.

Matan Davidian, who represents the evacuated northern community of Shlomi, declares the response to a threat on Tel Aviv must be the same to a threat against Kiryat Shmona.

“Israel launches a preemptive strike for residents of the center, while for 10 months, northern residents live under fire, far from their homes and families,” he says.

“The dozens killed and injured have no value for the prime minister, who hides behind a failed defense minister, who abandons the northern border and its residents, and simply doesn’t care for our blood that has been spilled,” he adds.

Upper Galilee Reginal Council Giora Zaltz tells the Ynet news site that the IDF’s claim of striking 6,000 rockets only amounts to 3 percent of Hezbollah’s capabilities.

“The prime minister gave a bad feeling to northern residents this morning. One week from today we are supposed to start the academic year. We have to find a way to return the residents of the north safely,” he says.