Northern Israelis Fear Trump's Lebanon Ceasefire Will Trap Them in 'Living Hell'

Residents in northern Israel are expressing deep anxiety over a potential US-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon, fearing it will trap them in a prolonged state of conflict with Hezbollah. The town of Metula, Israel's northernmost settlement, has become a focal point of this tension, with its mayor, David Azoulay, describing the situation as an ironic protest against US President Donald Trump's influence.

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Over the past four months, Israel’s policy has been driven entirely by Trump. Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu is trapped in a bear hug that is slowly suffocating us Israelis.

"Over the past four months, Israel’s policy has been driven entirely by Trump," Azoulay stated, feeling that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "trapped in a bear hug that is slowly suffocating us Israelis." This sentiment is particularly acute in the Galilee Panhandle, an area heavily impacted by Hezbollah rocket attacks, which has seen many residents and businesses leave. Metula itself, evacuated in October 2023, has seen only two-thirds of its residents return, with many harboring little faith in a lasting peace.

Kobi Sarmili, a 63-year-old chicken farmer from Margaliot, voiced the prevailing fear: "There won't be a ceasefire; it will just keep going like this, with intermittent rocket fire trickling down on us." He added, "If they pull the troops out, then what? It will be a living hell. Trump is the one calling the shots for us, no one else. He is running our country."

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There won't be a ceasefire; it will just keep going like this, with intermittent rocket fire trickling down on us. If they pull the troops out, then what? It will be a living hell. Trump is the one calling the shots for us, no one else. He is running our country.

Miry Menashe, a coffee shop owner in Metula, echoed the unease surrounding the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Trump, which initiated a 60-day peace talk window. Despite the MoU calling for an immediate ceasefire, fighting continues across the border. Menashe emphasized the Israeli government's stance that the conflict with Hezbollah is separate from the war with Iran, stating, "If the US wants to be part of the solution rather than enforcing a ceasefire on us, it must compel Lebanon to deploy its army to southern Lebanon."

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If the US wants to be part of the solution rather than enforcing a ceasefire on us, it must compel Lebanon to deploy its army to southern Lebanon. Train them, arm them, and give them the resources they need.