The normally bustling tourist season in northern Israel's Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee region has ground to a halt this August. Roads usually clogged with vacationers now sit empty, a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict's toll.
In Katzrin, local restaurateur Bat Ami Egozi faces a grim reality. Her hummus shop, once thriving, has seen revenues plummet by 60%. "This summer is death," she says, her voice tinged with frustration. Four nearby businesses have already shuttered, unable to weather the storm.
Egozi's story takes a harrowing turn as she recounts a recent close call. "A missile fell 50 meters from me," she recounts, "All I had for protection was a picnic table I crawled under." The fear in her voice is palpable as she describes the earth flying around her, the realization of how close she came to losing everything.
Despite the constant threat, some tourists brave the journey north. Hadar, visiting from southern Israel with her family, explains their decision: "How long can we wait for Hezbollah and Iran?" Her words reflect a determination to maintain normalcy in the face of adversity.
Yet for residents like Egozi, there's no escape from the daily reality of conflict. "Despite all the difficulties we are experiencing, I just ask that they don't stop until total victory," she says.
* Makor Rishon contributed to this article.
