A study conducted these days by the Regional Knowledge Center of Tel Hai Academic College and the Eastern Galilee cluster of authorities, in collaboration with the Ronald Rudberg Foundation and the Communities Canada Finger of the Galilee partnership, reveals a worrying picture of the residents of the Eastern Galilee, some of whom have been dealing with the challenges and difficulties caused by the fighting for more than three months which is prolonged in front of Hezbollah, on the northern border of the country, and in some with the challenges and difficulties of being evacuated from their homes.
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The study was conducted among all the residents of the Eastern Galilee, and about 2,000 respondents from all the cluster authorities participated in it, constituting a representative sample of the population of the Eastern Galilee.
About 90% of the research participants identified themselves as Jews, and the rest are Druze, Muslim or Christian.
Also, about 48% of the participants remained to live in their home settlement, while the rest (about 52%) were evacuated or vacated independently from the area.
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The research shows that the factor that will contribute to the feeling of security is the implementation of resolution 1701, the removal of Hezbollah forces from the border fence and damage to the terrorist infrastructure while promising that Hezbollah will not operate in the demilitarized zone in southern Lebanon.
Also, in the survey, the claims were raised that the construction of MMDs and the stationing of military forces in the settlement will not contribute to the residents' sense of security.
Info The sense of security of the residents of the north, photo: Regional Knowledge Center of Eshkol Galil Mizrachi and Tel-Hai Academic
Info on the degree of damage to the level of income, photo: Regional Knowledge Center of Eshkol Galil Mizrahi and Academic Tel-Hai
The survey, conducted at Tel Hai College, examined the post-trauma suffered by the residents of the north.
48% of the evacuated residents, and 54% of the residents who were evacuated independently, reported that they suffer from post-trauma.
88% of the business owners in the Eastern Galilee reported a serious injury to their financial situation, and their incomes decreased by at least 50%.
The chairman of Eshkol Galil Mizrahi and the head of the regional council of the Hermon entrances, Benny Ben-Mobacher, said: "The results of the study clearly illustrate that the residents of the Mizrahi Galilee do not intend to return to their homes until complete security is achieved in the area.
Community resilience is the basis of our lives.
Along with the full confidence we have in the security forces, we demand a responsible military-political solution for the residents.
We have zero tolerance for temporary solutions, we as authorities and government officials have the responsibility to strengthen the residents, support them and above all maintain their resilience and security."
Residents of Kiryat Shmona evacuate the city, photo: Eyal Margolin
"The residents of the Eastern Galilee expect to receive an immediate and optimal response that will enable the conditions required for their return to their homes, and which has the potential to restore, grow and bring about the socio-economic, physical and demographic development of the region," said Ben-Mobahar.
"For this, significant intervention and support from the government ministries is required, and one hour earlier is fine."
According to Dr. Ayala Cohen, a senior lecturer in the Department of Social Work who is leading the study together with Dr. Noam Cohen: "The study presents a very worrying picture. The state tried through the evacuation to protect the personal safety of the residents of the conflict line, but personal resilience is not based only About personal security. It also consists of mental, emotional and spiritual resilience, which were probably greatly damaged as a result of being cut off from home, from the familiar environment and from the supportive community."
She further added that "the residents of the north face many difficulties of staying in hotel rooms for a long time and above all they are left with great uncertainty, when they are not clear what the future holds".
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