What It Is About

The seven municipalities in Northern Israel, which experienced displacements due to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in October 2023, have finally conducted their municipal elections. Known as “local authorities,” these municipalities include Kiryat Shmona Municipality, Shlomi Local Council, Matte Asher Regional Council, Galil Elyon Regional Council, Mevo’ot Hermon Regional Council, Ma’ale Yosef Regional Council, and Merom Hagalil Regional Council.

Why It Matters

This belated election signifies a return to normalcy and democratic processes for residents affected by conflict. The Interior Ministry ensured that all eligible voters could participate, even those yet to return home, underscoring the resilience and democratic commitment of the Israeli community.

The Details

Country-wide municipal elections happened in February 2024, with the Gaza border area voting in November 2024. However, the Northern municipalities were delayed until now due to security concerns. On this occasion, 70,058 eligible voters had the chance to cast their ballots.

Unique to Israeli municipal elections, voters cast two ballots: one for mayoral candidates and another for party representation on the city council. In Shlomi, Gabriel (Gabby) Ne’eman is set to win automatically as the sole candidate.

Key Race in Kiryat Shmona

One notable contest is the Kiryat Shmona mayoral race between incumbent Avichai Stern and the Likud’s Eli Zafrani. This highlights the importance of these elections in shaping local strategy and governance, especially amid political tensions.

Efforts of the Interior Ministry

Ronen Peretz, Director-General of the Interior Ministry, emphasized their dedication to ensuring access and fairness for all voters. Special arrangements were made for those still unable to return home, showing the prioritization of democratic integrity even during challenging times.

This story was first published on jpost.com.