A Hezbollah video clip of an Israeli community under attack

Local Israeli Leaders Slam Temporary Ceasefire Deal With Hezbollah

Details
The Judean Staff
National

In recent days, the leadership of northern Israeli communities has voiced fierce opposition to the proposed U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Local leaders are warning that the deal, if finalized without robust security guarantees, will leave border communities vulnerable to future aggression and repeat the mistakes of past conflicts with Hezbollah.

"A Surrender Agreement"

Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avihay Shtern echoed these concerns, taking to Facebook to label the proposed deal as nothing less than a "surrender agreement."

“When you propose to return us to the nightmare reality of October 6—where our sons could be abducted, our daughters assaulted, and our homes incinerated—we say no,” Shtern wrote. “We will not agree to this betrayal. We will not return to our homes only to become human shields for an unenforced ceasefire.”

Shtern’s rhetoric has resonated deeply with displaced residents, tens of thousands of whom remain evacuated since the escalation of hostilities following the October 7 attacks last year.

"A Disaster for Generations"

Moshe Davidovich, head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, minced no words in his condemnation of the deal, describing it as a looming "disaster for generations" if it fails to address the security needs of residents in Israel’s northern border towns.

“A ceasefire agreement that does not include a comprehensive arrangement ensuring the safety of our communities would be catastrophic,” Davidovich stated. He emphasized that such an agreement must include the creation of a heavily enforced buffer zone near the border, the deployment of a robust international force, and the removal of Hezbollah militants beyond the Litani River.

He also warned against repeating the failures of previous agreements: “After the First and Second Lebanon Wars, Israel entered into unenforced agreements that left our communities exposed. We will not stand by as history repeats itself. The residents of the North are not just civilians; they are Israel’s first line of defense. Their security is non-negotiable.”

Fragile Framework with Major Flaws

The proposed ceasefire, mediated by the United States, outlines a 60-day truce during which Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon. This would ostensibly allow the Lebanese military to assume control of the area and prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing itself. However, skepticism abounds.

Critics highlight the central role of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in overseeing the implementation of the deal under the terms of UN Resolution 1701, which has been in place since 2006 but has largely failed to prevent Hezbollah’s buildup of arms and fortifications along the border. While the agreement introduces an oversight board led by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and France, the extent of their involvement remains unclear.

Will CENTCOM operatives be deployed on the ground to enforce compliance, or will they merely rely on reports from afar? This question looms large for northern residents who have lived under the shadow of Hezbollah rockets for decades.

Internal Hezbollah Turmoil: A Wild Card

Further complicating matters, Hezbollah appears to be fracturing from within following the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah. Lebanese media reports suggest that senior Hezbollah fighter Hajj Khalil has openly criticized Nasrallah’s successor, Naim Qassem, labeling him a “weak coward” and a “traitor” to Nasrallah’s legacy.

“Hezbollah is no longer a unified organization,” one intelligence official warned. “Many missile units operate autonomously, and rogue actors could easily derail the ceasefire. This poses a significant risk for Israel, even if the agreement is signed.”

Netanyahu’s Outreach to Northern Leaders

Amid the growing backlash, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited northern regional council leaders to a high-level meeting to discuss the terms of the proposed agreement. While this gesture indicates the government’s awareness of local concerns, it has done little to allay fears. Many residents feel that Israel’s political leadership, under international pressure, is prioritizing diplomatic optics over their safety.

A Risk Too Great?

With Hezbollah splintering and no guarantee of enforcement, northern Israeli leaders argue that the proposed ceasefire amounts to little more than a gamble on paper promises. As Shtern aptly put it, “This is not peace; this is abandonment. And we, the residents of the North, refuse to be collateral damage in this dangerous experiment.”

As negotiations proceed, one thing is clear: the voices from Israel’s northern border will not be silenced. They are determined to ensure that any agreement signed with Lebanon prioritizes their safety—not just today, but for generations to come.

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