Northern Residents Fear Lebanon Deal Will Leave Them Unprotected

After the first round of talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, a monitoring mechanism was announced to prevent friction in Lebanon, but without Israeli participation. The mechanism is meant to oversee the northern border, and it will include Iran, Pakistan and Qatar, a setup that has sparked anger and concern in Israel.

Avi Ozana, head of the Rosh Hanikra kibbutz committee, voiced strong skepticism in an interview with the morning show "HaOlam HaBoker." He said, "I do not have much hope in this fake ceasefire," reflecting deep mistrust of the arrangement.

Ozana said residents fear a possible withdrawal from the Israeli security buffer zone established by the IDF. "We are truly worried about the day they will have to withdraw from the security strip that the IDF built wisely," he said. He also stressed that outside actors cannot be relied on for protection: "Only our soldiers will defend my home. That is the message that needs to be conveyed."

His criticism highlights the gap between diplomatic arrangements and the sense of security on the ground. The idea that foreign states would oversee Israel's security is being met with deep skepticism, especially because Iran is part of the monitoring framework. Reports about restricting military activity in Lebanon have only intensified those fears, leaving northern residents feeling their security has been placed in foreign hands.