The Situation

Yuval Albo, a determined agrarian from Moshav Ramot Naftali next to the Lebanon border in northern Israel, stands his ground despite Hezbollah militants launching a missile close to his home. Albo’s pear orchard and chicken coop are emblematic of his tenacity, forming the core of his resistance against leaving the land he cultivates.

Why It Matters

The farmers’ defiance is a testament to the resilience in northern Israel’s agricultural communities. It signals a resistance to letting terror dictate the terms of everyday life despite the ongoing threats. Albo’s personal story reflects a larger narrative of farmers striving to maintain their livelihoods under the constant shadows of conflict and a complex reality where their counterparts across the border carry on normally.

Context

While life across the border in a Lebanese village appears tranquil and routine, Northern Israel is tension-filled. With evacuation orders and destructive Hezbollah-led onslaughts occurring in close proximity, farmers like Albo promote a message that criticizes submissiveness. The contrasts between life on either side of the border are striking and highlight diverse experiences stemming from the geopolitics of the region.

On the Ground

Albo, speaking amidst recent evacuations provoked by Hezbollah threats, affirms his belief that retreat is not a viable strategy and emphasizes the need to return residents to their lands and to transition from a defensive stance into a proactive one. Moreover, with the ongoing conflict and state bureaucracy complications, there is great uncertainty over compensation for damages to farmland, exacerbating farmers’ concerns over their future harvest and survival.

In His Words

“Leaving is not an option for me,” insists Albo, as he grapples with the physical risks his work now entails to rescue the fruits of his annual labor. “I deal with living creatures; I cannot just hit pause on them. I have a responsibility towards my land, my crop, and my country – even more so during war-time. If not for the devotion of farmers like us, how will people have access to necessities like poultry?”

The Big Picture

The story of Yuval Albo is a stark reminder of the everyday human fortitude facing geopolitical struggles and underlines the complexities Israeli farmers encounter. Balancing threats to personal safety with ensuring national food security illustrates the confluence of duty, patriotism, and resilience that Albo and many like him embody.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.