Israel’s northern city struggles to rebuild after war

Ilana Binyamin and over 60,000 other Israeli residents evacuated from Kiryat Shmona, Israel, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent rocket launches from Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Kiryat Shmona, known as Israel’s “capital of the north” and located just one mile from the Lebanese border, has faced prolonged insecurity and displacement.

Though residents hoped to return within weeks, nearly 40% of the city’s 24,000 people had not returned as of this year, and those who did are often older and have fewer resources. The city’s mayor, Avichai Stern, publicly accused the government of failing to adequately protect residents by providing enough bomb shelters, warning Kiryat Shmona is on the verge of collapse. Government officials have responded by saying the mayor delayed assistance.

Israel has allocated $6 billion to support border communities, including funding for transportation and services, but local leaders believe a more comprehensive “national project” is needed to rebuild. Built in the 1950s to house Jewish immigrants from Morocco, Kiryat Shmona has historically weathered periods of unrest.

Despite new initiatives like the planned expansion of Tel-Hai College into a university and the arrival of newcomers seeking to bolster the city, many residents are leaving due to ongoing safety concerns and limited economic opportunities. Some, like Michael Uriel Avraham, plan to relocate to central Israel, while others, like Ukrainian-born Tania Kravtsov, are arriving with fresh energy hoping to establish roots.