“We are committed—in both the civilian and military spheres—to returning the residents safely to their communities and their homes. This is one of the objectives of the war and we are not conceding it.”
(JNS)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in the north on Tuesday that Israel was committed to safely returning tens of thousands of displaced residents to their homes near the Lebanon border.
“We are committed—in both the civilian and military spheres—to returning the residents safely to their communities and their homes. This is one of the objectives of the war and we are not conceding it,” said the premier during a visit to the IDF Northern District Intelligence Branch base.
Netanyahu received a situational briefing from Intelligence Branch Commander Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva and Unit 8200 Commander Brig.-Gen. Y. He then went to a post on the northern border, where he met with Golani Brigade Reconnaissance Unit fighters. Golani Brigade Commander Col. Adi Ganon and Reconnaissance Unit Commander Lt.-Col. David Cohen briefed Netanyahu on their operational activity in the sector.
“I am here with the soldiers of the Golani Brigade and the Golani Brigade Reconnaissance Unit, a splendid unit that is fighting in Gaza, in Judea and Samaria, and now here on the northern border,” said Netanyahu. “They have lost friends but have an exceptional fighting spirit and marvelous achievements, together with their fellow soldiers,” he added.
Netanyahu’s chief-of-staff and military secretary, Tzachi Braverman and Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, respectively, as well as National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi accompanied him on the visit.
His trip to the north came a day after the government unveiled a 3.5 billion shekel ($950 million) plan to rehabilitate the country’s north, which has suffered near-daily attacks by Hezbollah since Oct. 7. More than 60,000 area residents remain displaced nearly 8 months into the war.
The immediate-term plan joins a longer, multi-year plan dubbed “Northern Dawn” that offers specific proposals for rebuilding and developing the region.
The plan’s approval brings the overall budget for Israel’s north to 6.5 billion shekels, or roughly $1.8 billion.
Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to IDF soldiers during a visit to the northern border on May 28, 2024. Photo by Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO.
