Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi met today (Tuesday) for a conversation with the heads of the authorities in the north, against the background of the evacuation of the residents of the settlements on the conflict line in the shadow of the threats from Lebanon. In his words, Halevi told the heads of the authorities that this is a significant meeting and that he sees great importance in the relationship, between the IDF and the local leadership.
"We made a difficult decision to evacuate the residents in the north, and I am full of appreciation for the way you show resilience and patience, and allow us to fight," Halevi told the heads of authorities. "We will plan together with the heads of the authorities the return of the residents and its timing, in dialogue and with the understanding that we will not be able to return to the reality that was here before the war."
He also thanked the forum, for the important and instructive meeting and insisted that the dialogue would continue to take place on an ongoing basis all the time. "For eight weeks now, the IDF fighters and their commanders have been fighting with determination and defending Home," he noted. "We will continue to fight and are ready for developments in other arenas, also in the north.".