Kiryat Shmona Mayor Backs Netanyahu After Weeks of Criticism

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Kiryat Shmona on October 20, meeting with Mayor Avichai Stern. In a social media video, Stern thanked Netanyahu for establishing a university in the city and expressed hope that Israelis would "understand how to do things correctly and who to vote for" in the upcoming elections. This endorsement comes after Stern was a vocal critic of Netanyahu's government during the recent war, accusing it of abandoning the northern border city. Ministers from Netanyahu's Likud party had previously avoided visiting Kiryat Shmona, and residents elected Stern over the Likud candidate, Eli Zafrani, in local elections.

Netanyahu's relationship with Stern has been strained. Despite Kiryat Shmona being heavily impacted by Hezbollah attacks and evacuations, Netanyahu visited in June 2024, meeting only with Zafrani and not Stern. On October 20, Netanyahu also met again with Zafrani, praising him for securing state investments. The war led to the evacuation of approximately 26,000 residents from Kiryat Shmona in October 2023. Currently, only about 16,000 people live there, with around 40% of businesses yet to reopen and those that have seeing reduced revenue.

In March 2026, Stern criticized the government, stating, "The state is at war with me, not with Hezbollah." He lamented that the city was "dying" and that residents would not remain in the "grim reality" without state support. He also stated that the government had failed in its "most basic task: protecting border residents." Stern demanded action over explanations, warning that "every minute of delay costs us another family that risks its life or decides to leave the Galilee."

During Netanyahu's June 2024 visit, Stern was not invited and expressed anger at "cheap political performances during the war." However, his tone shifted on October 20, 2026, when he thanked Netanyahu for the university and expressed belief in his ability to bring about change. Netanyahu also attended the opening of the academic year at the new Kiryat Shmona university and other local schools. Students present at a school meeting reported Netanyahu saying that if he is not re-elected, "nothing will happen here."