Four days after a rocket launched by Hezbollah fell on the streets of his city and caused bodily injuries and extensive damage to property, the mayor of Kiryat Bialik demands that the prime minister continue until the enemy is defeated. Other mayors joined in the call, with the exception of Yahav who says: “It is better to reach agreements with the other side now”
Batia Giladi, Odia Schwetz Publication: 11:21 – 09/26/24
Eli Dukorski against a ceasefire in the north Photo: Kiryat Bialik Municipality Spokesperson
Mayor of Kiryat Bialik Eli Dukorski came out this morning (Thursday) against a possible ceasefire on the northern border, and called for it to continue until Hizbullah is defeated. Other mayors joined the call, with the exception of Yahav who supports a break that will help the rehabilitation of the north.
Tonight, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, issued a statement in which they agreed to a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, in order to allow the conflict to end diplomatically.
In response to this, Dukorski, whose rocket fell on the streets of his city this week and caused bodily injuries and extensive property damage, called on Prime Minister Netanyahu: “For 11 months the north has been attacked, settlements have been abandoned and destroyed, soldiers and civilians have been killed and the enlightened world has not pressed for a ceasefire. Now, when Israel crushes the organization Hezbollah terrorism, the world is pressing for a ceasefire, which will stop the terrorist organization’s capabilities and the return of the residents to the north. Netanyahu, this is not the time to stop the residents of the north.”
The attack on Kiryat Bialik at the beginning of the week Photo: MDA Spokesperson Merhav Carmel
Roi Levy, the mayor of Nesher, also came out against the presidents’ proposal: “We hear the reports of an approaching cease-fire. We do not know the picture of the intelligence and I am sure that we want the best for our country. However, if there is a time when Hezbollah can be defeated In terms of the home front, we are at the right time.”
The mayor of Kiryat Motzkin, Tsiki Avisher: “I find it hard to believe that the prime minister will go back on his commitment to defeat the Lebanese enemy. Without a clear military decision, I, as the mayor of a city in the north of the country, know that the following will happen: 1) The residents of the north will not return to their homes and will continue to be refugees in their country, 2) The students of the “Meta Asher” Regional Council, who have been staying with us for almost a year, will continue to stay here 3) Everything that Israel has done here in the past year will be no more than one long round of combat, after which the Arab terrorism will be given breathing space to return and intensify for the next round.”
Mayor of Kiryat Yam, David Ibn Zur: “I explained that the more the IDF does and deals a heavy blow to Hezbollah, the more the world will try to pressure them into a settlement. And if this is true and there is a ceasefire (not yet signed) it only proves that political results can only be achieved through the application of military pressure. About a ceasefire? It could be dangerous because Hezbollah can reorganize because it has been badly hit. Finally, the real test is why I am not enthusiastic about a break, but the test is the result that the residents of the north will finally be able to return to their homes in peace and security and that the abductees will return home. Until then, you mustn’t smell the silence.”
Yahav: “reach agreements with the other side now”
Among the mayors, the only one who supports the cease-fire is Yona Yahav: “I support a cease-fire and on the condition that it brings long-term peace to the north, will allow the immediate return of the residents of the north to their homes while the government commits to injecting budgets for the development of the Haifa metropolis and the north of the country. In any case, we will reach agreements with the other side Therefore, it is worthwhile to do this now after we have prepared Hezbollah for a heavy blow and before entering into a long round of fighting that may result in damage to human lives and great damage to the economy and infrastructure in the north.”
“accepts every step that is accepted”
The mayor of Kiryat Ata, Yaakov Peretz, said: “The full picture is in the hands of the Israeli government and I accept every step taken by the decision makers. The most important thing is maintaining the security of the citizens of Israel and returning the residents of the north to their homes.”
