New Study Reveals 64% of Galilee Youth Feel Unsafe Amid War, Half Displaced

A recent comprehensive study by the Regional Knowledge Center at Tel-Hai College in Kiryat Shmona reveals severe impacts of ongoing security tensions on young residents of the Galilee region. Conducted among 18 to 40-year-olds in partnership with Canadian Jewish Federations and other organizations, the research highlights that 64% of young people no longer feel safe in their communities, and 56% report significant mental health deterioration. The study was first published by Walla and will be presented at the Elad Ehrlich Eastern Galilee Conference in Tel-Hai on Monday.

The conflict has caused dramatic disruptions, with approximately half of the youth forced to temporarily leave the area during the war. Employment has also been heavily affected, as 40% experienced direct work interruptions such as layoffs or forced changes. Despite these hardships, 65% intend to return to live in the Galilee, with community involvement playing a key role; 77% of socially active youth expressed a strong willingness to remain in the region.

Economically, the prolonged conflict has severely damaged the Eastern Galilee’s backbone. About 84% of local businesses reported significant or moderate declines in annual revenue, facing drops in sales, customer numbers, labor shortages, and supply chain issues. Nearly half considered relocating or closing, yet 64% remain confident in continuing operations and 69% seek to join local business networks for collaboration. Agriculture has also suffered from restricted land access, labor shortages, marketing challenges, and crop losses, though 72% of farmers are open to cooperative marketing and 70% to technological development.

Professor Ayala Cohen, head of the Regional Knowledge Center, emphasized the deep impact on youth, businesses, and agriculture but also noted resilience and a clear desire to rebuild the area. She stressed the importance of investing in community, employment, and security to support returnees and urged policymakers to use the data to craft precise, long-term regional strategies. The study underscores both the crisis and the opportunity to strengthen the Galilee’s future.