Amid negotiations between “Israel” and Lebanon to advance a political settlement, the issue of northern residents’ trust has returned to the top of the agenda.
The issue was discussed by a panel moderated by journalist Sharon Kidon, held as part of the National Security Conference in partnership with the Institute for National Security Studies INSS.
Despite the relative calm on the northern border, the head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council and chairman of the Frontline Forum Moshe Davidovitch made clear that residents’ sense of security is far from recovered.
He said: “We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic – we are realistic.”
He added that even when the Israeli army operates inside Lebanon, the main threat to frontline residents remains the risk of infiltration.
He noted: “Just a month ago we saw armed men wandering in the area of Metula,” pointing out that the trauma of October 7 still accompanies residents.
According to him, the presence of the Israeli army beyond the border does improve the sense of security, but it does not provide certainty.
He said: “They promised to create a zone free of gunmen, but in the end no one can guarantee that there won’t be threats in the future.”
Dr. Edith Shafran Gittleman from INSS explained that the crisis of trust among northern residents consists of two levels.
The first is the crisis that arose after the October 7 attack, and the second is the gap between the promises made afterward and reality.
She said: “Many residents thought the threat had been removed and that they could return home safely, then they discovered that the reality is more complicated.”
She said the path to rebuilding trust begins with honest dialogue with the public:
“We do not make promises that cannot be kept. We must make clear to residents what is possible and what is not possible.”
She stressed that even if trust surveys indicate broad support for the Israeli army, that does not mean residents fully trust every security assessment.
“There is emotional trust in the army, but for people to feel secure again, they also need to believe what they are being told.”
Source: Websites