Kiryat Shmona Mayor Publicly Backs Netanyahu After Criticizing Government
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern publicly endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thanking him for development projects in the northern city. Stern previously criticized the government's handling of the war and the security situation, which has caused a significant population drop in Kiryat Shmona. He also recounted being excluded from a Knesset Finance Committee meeting discussing war compensation. Stern's public support for Netanyahu comes ahead of upcoming elections.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern publicly endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Stern thanked Netanyahu for approving new neighborhoods, a train line, and a university for Kiryat Shmona.
- The mayor stated Kiryat Shmona's population has fallen from 26,000 to 16,000 due to the security situation.
- Stern previously criticized the government's response to the war and his city's lack of support.
- He was denied a chance to speak at a Knesset Finance Committee meeting on war compensation.
- Stern believes Kiryat Shmona residents are grateful and will vote accordingly.
Avichai Stern, the mayor of Kiryat Shmona, who had previously criticized the government's conduct during the war, publicly declared his support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. Stern expressed gratitude to Netanyahu for approving three new neighborhoods, a train line, and the establishment of a university in Kiryat Shmona, stating, "This is how change is made. I believe in this, I believe in you, and God willing, in exactly one week, the people of Israel will understand how to do things correctly and who to vote for."
Earlier in the day, Stern had spoken at TheMarker and Margalit Startup City's "Choosing the North" conference, detailing the significant population decline in Kiryat Shmona. He noted that the city's population has dropped from approximately 26,000 residents before the war to about 16,000 currently, with 40% of residents not returning, primarily due to the security situation. Stern warned, "As long as Hezbollah stands, it is only a matter of time before we are in another campaign."
Responding to an interviewer's question about Netanyahu's visit to the city a week before the elections, Stern urged against politicizing the event, emphasizing it was a historic day for the Kiryat Shmona University. He added that residents are intelligent and grateful, not easily swayed, and know how to express their appreciation through their votes.
However, Stern's tone during the war was markedly different. In March, with only 10,000 residents remaining in the city, he had not received any visit or even a phone call from Netanyahu. Kiryat Shmona had been under constant bombardment since the war's outset, with numerous missile impacts and thousands of residents lacking adequate shelter amid frequent alarms. Stern had vocally demanded the implementation of a government decision to evacuate residents, particularly vulnerable populations, to hotels or safe housing.
In April, Stern was denied participation in a Finance Committee meeting discussing compensation for the economy due to the war. The committee's chairman, Hanoch Milwidsky, stated that allowing everyone to speak via Zoom would leave no time for substantive discussion. Stern lamented this exclusion, noting his past participation in Knesset committee Zoom meetings and criticizing the chairman's refusal to hear from public representatives, which he saw as a disconnect and fear of criticism.
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