Dean Sweetland looks out over the quiet streets of Kibbutz Malkiya in Israel. The town, located near the border with Lebanon, has been mostly empty since it was abandoned a year ago. The daycare is closed, the homes are in disarray, and parts of the area show signs of fire damage from Hezbollah rockets.
Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah aimed at allowing Israelis to return to the northern areas, the mood in Kibbutz Malkiya is far from celebratory. Dean, a gardener and member of the kibbutz’s civilian security squad, expresses his doubts about the ceasefire, stating that he is not ready to call his friends back to their homes just yet.
While Lebanese civilians have been rushing back to their homes in the south, many residents of northern Israel remain skeptical and apprehensive. The fear of Hezbollah returning to the border, lack of trust in UN peacekeeping forces, anger at the government, and some Israelis’ desire to rebuild their lives elsewhere are all factors contributing to the hesitation in returning immediately.
During the conflict that led to the evacuation of approximately 45,000 Israelis from the north, Hezbollah fired rockets across the border in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. This triggered a series of exchanges, causing damage to both Lebanese and Israeli communities near the border.
The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for Hezbollah to remove its armed presence from southern Lebanon, where they had been entrenched for years. UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese army are tasked with ensuring that Hezbollah does not return to the area. However, many residents in northern Israel remain unconvinced that the peace will hold.
Sarah Gould, who evacuated Kibbutz Malkiya with her children at the start of the conflict, expresses her skepticism about the ceasefire, as Hezbollah continued firing until the ceasefire took effect. She questions the government’s claim that Hezbollah has been neutralized.
In communities like Kibbutz Manara, which is located between Lebanon and Syria, the ceasefire has not led to an immediate return of residents. The village remains deserted, with many structures damaged during the conflict.
Despite the ceasefire, there are concerns about the ability of UN peacekeepers to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its power and returning to the areas they were driven out of. Residents like Orna Weinberg, who grew up in Manara, are wary of the fragile truce.
While some Israelis have cautiously returned to areas farther from the border, others, like those in Kibbutz Malkiya, are hesitant to go back immediately. The experiences of displacement and the challenges of rebuilding their lives elsewhere have made the prospect of returning to a front-line town daunting for many.
The government support provided to evacuees in Israel and Lebanon has been crucial in helping people cope with the aftermath of the conflict. However, the decision to return to their homes will depend on various factors, including financial considerations and the perceived level of security in the border communities.
As residents grapple with the decision of whether to return to their homes in the north, the road to recovery and rebuilding their communities will likely be a long and challenging one. The wounds from the conflict run deep, and the scars will take time to heal. In the meantime, people like Dean Sweetland and Orna Weinberg continue to hope for a safe and peaceful return to their once-vibrant communities.
