Tense calm settles over far north Israel as preparations begin for another assault on Hezbollah.
For Noam Erlich, the memories of his beer garden, once the centerpiece of life at Manara kibbutz, still linger. Repeated missile strikes from Hezbollah during the 2023 conflict left the building and most neighboring homes irreparably damaged. Today, Erlich is sanguine about the future, having diversified his business to commercial breweries in central Israel, which now generate ten times more revenue.
As a bipartisan consensus emerges that a new military operation will soon be launched against Hezbollah's capabilities, residents along Israel's northern border are cautiously optimistic. Communities like Metula and Kiryat Shmona have seen devastating effects of the conflict but also have witnessed the potential for renewal.
David Azoulay, the mayor of Metula, expressed his commitment to rebuilding and modernizing the town. Despite facing significant challenges in attracting new residents and economic investment, he remains hopeful that with renewed infrastructure and public services, communities like Kiryat Shmona can recover from the devastating impact of war.
However, not everyone shares Azoulay's optimism. Analysts suggest that a potential new military offensive may be strategically designed to bolster support for Israel's right-wing ruling coalition rather than solely addressing concerns about security along the border.
Meanwhile, tensions continue between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with fresh airstrikes reported in recent days.
As the situation evolves, one thing is clear: life in northern Israel remains fragile and uncertain, with the threat of renewed conflict casting a long shadow over communities that are struggling to recover from past devastation.
For Noam Erlich, the memories of his beer garden, once the centerpiece of life at Manara kibbutz, still linger. Repeated missile strikes from Hezbollah during the 2023 conflict left the building and most neighboring homes irreparably damaged. Today, Erlich is sanguine about the future, having diversified his business to commercial breweries in central Israel, which now generate ten times more revenue.
As a bipartisan consensus emerges that a new military operation will soon be launched against Hezbollah's capabilities, residents along Israel's northern border are cautiously optimistic. Communities like Metula and Kiryat Shmona have seen devastating effects of the conflict but also have witnessed the potential for renewal.
David Azoulay, the mayor of Metula, expressed his commitment to rebuilding and modernizing the town. Despite facing significant challenges in attracting new residents and economic investment, he remains hopeful that with renewed infrastructure and public services, communities like Kiryat Shmona can recover from the devastating impact of war.
However, not everyone shares Azoulay's optimism. Analysts suggest that a potential new military offensive may be strategically designed to bolster support for Israel's right-wing ruling coalition rather than solely addressing concerns about security along the border.
Meanwhile, tensions continue between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, with fresh airstrikes reported in recent days.
As the situation evolves, one thing is clear: life in northern Israel remains fragile and uncertain, with the threat of renewed conflict casting a long shadow over communities that are struggling to recover from past devastation.