What’s Happening

In response to the conflict with Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commandeered agricultural lands in northern Israel for military operations. Since then, affected farmers have experienced significant disruption, with their lands becoming unusable and no compensation received from the government as yet.

Why It Matters

Israel’s northern farmers play a crucial role in the nation’s food supply and economic stability. The repurposing of their farmlands without proper compensation leaves them struggling to maintain their livelihoods and puts additional strain on the agricultural sector.

The Details

At the outset of October, as tensions heightened, IDF forces took control of numerous agricultural plots, including around 1.5 acres near Moshav Ahihud, transforming them for defense purposes. Months later, farmers like Chaim Gamliel are still seeking government support and reparations for the damaged land, which was left in an unworkable state after the military’s use.

What They’re Saying

Chaim Gamliel, a local farmer whose land was affected, stated, “I was informed by friends and upon inspection found the military building large embankments on my property. My livelihood depends on these fields, and currently, I am incurring substantial costs to buy hay to feed my livestock because I can’t grow my own.”

He added, “Despite multiple attempts to discuss compensation, there has been no actionable response from authorities yet.”

Military Response

The Defense Ministry acknowledged the issue, confirming that the matter has been escalated, with assurances that professional personnel will reach out to the affected farmers to gather details for a comprehensive evaluation. They committed to updating the farmers upon completing the assessment.

What’s Next

The focus now shifts to ensuring prompt attention and fair compensation to the farmers, enabling them to restore their lands and resume normal agricultural activities. This collective effort underscores the importance of securing the backbone of Israel’s agriculture and fostering stronger community-military collaboration during challenging times.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.