A recent report has revealed that Israeli settlers are still reluctant to return to the illegal settlements in the northern part of the occupied territories, which were evacuated in light of retaliatory strikes by the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement against the regime’s military positions.
Settlers at the Metula settlement have filed a petition with Israel’s so-called Supreme Court, requesting a conditional order and hearing to discuss an appeal for the settlement’s exclusion from the return protocol that is set to begin in early March, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The Metula settlement council head, David Azoulay, argued that the Israeli cabinet’s refusal to exempt Metula residents from returning has resulted in a “completely unreasonable” outcome.
It would force the settlers to leave their current accommodation, places of employment, and schools to return to an area where 70 percent of the buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
Azoulay also highlights a continued “security risk.”
The settlers of Metula have urged Supreme Court representatives to inspect the settlement and reevaluate the decision.
Kraus said over 2,200 projectiles struck the settlement during the course of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October 2023.
The council petition states that there is no protection due to a lack of proper shelter or fortified rooms.
Hospitals are closed, and schools are unfit to accommodate students, it added.
“For this reason, it was stated that the current situation in Metula does not allow for commercial activities, tourism (as all hotels and dozens of guest houses were damaged), agriculture, community life, welfare, health services, and more,” Kraus added.
