The Hebrew news website Walla has revealed that several local leaders from northern Israeli settlements have left the country amid an escalation in Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks on settlements near the Lebanese border.
According to the report, five heads of municipal and regional councils located in areas directly exposed to Hezbollah attacks travelled abroad for missions or visits that the outlet described as “non-urgent”, despite growing security tensions across the region.
Among them is Shimon Guetta, head of the Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council, which includes 22 settlements in the Western Galilee. Guetta is currently in New York, alongside Amit Sofer, head of the neighbouring Merom HaGalil Regional Council.
Walla also reported that Nahariya Mayor Ronen Marel travelled to Berlin to participate in twinning activities between the two cities, while Karmiel Mayor Moshe Koninski is also currently in the German capital.
In addition, Benny Ben Muvhar, head of the Mevo’ot Hermon Regional Council, has travelled to Greece.
Criticism Amid Rising Security Tensions
Walla argued that the recent deterioration in the security situation makes it increasingly difficult to justify such trips.
The outlet noted that northern occupied Palestine experienced one of its most tense weekends in recent months, as Hezbollah intensified both rocket and drone attacks.
On Saturday, air raid sirens sounded in Karmiel near Haifa after the detection of a drone and rocket launches from Lebanon, forcing thousands of settlers to seek shelter, according to the report.
The outlet criticised the absence of local officials during a period of heightened security concerns, arguing that the responsibilities of municipal leaders extend beyond managing local affairs remotely.
It stressed that local leaders are expected to remain on the ground alongside residents, visit the wounded, and oversee emergency assessments during times of crisis.
Officials Defend Their Travel
In response to the report, the Mevo’ot Hermon Regional Council said its chairman was on a previously planned family holiday.
Meanwhile, Karmiel Municipality stated that the mayor was on private leave but remained actively engaged in monitoring security developments and conducting assessments from abroad.
Hezbollah Operations Continue
As Israeli military escalation in southern Lebanon continues, Hezbollah announced that it carried out 21 operations on Saturday.
According to the group, the attacks included strikes on eight Israeli settlements and military bases, as well as ambushes targeting Israeli forces operating inside southern Lebanon.
Since 2 March, the Israeli occupation has been carrying out a large-scale assault on Lebanon that has resulted, according to the latest official Lebanese figures, in the killing of 3,355 people and the injury of 10,095 others.
The offensive has also displaced more than one million people and caused extensive destruction across large areas of the country.
Continued Alerts Across Northern Settlements
Since Sunday morning, air raid sirens have sounded more than ten times across Israeli settlements following Hezbollah rocket launches and drone attacks.
The developments come amid what observers describe as continued Israeli censorship regarding the scale of casualties and damage resulting from the attacks.
