The security escalation on Israel's northern border and continued fire at communities in the Galilee prompted the IDF Home Front Command to update its directives following a situation assessment held Saturday. At the end of the assessment, it was decided that the confrontation line area and a series of communities, including Meron, Bar Yohai and Yesod Hamaala, would move to a restricted activity level, with no educational activities, limits on gatherings and beach closures.
At the same time, the northern Golan Heights, Katzrin, Kidmat Tzvi and Upper Galilee areas will move to partial activity, allowing schools and workplaces to operate only in buildings or places with quick access to a protected space.
The directives include limiting gatherings to up to 50 people outdoors and up to 200 people indoors, as well as closing beaches to the public. The directives will remain in effect until Monday.
Meanwhile, tensions in the north have drawn sharp reactions from the political system, alongside calls for a change in policy, mutual accusations and demands for broader military action against Hezbollah.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attacked the current government's policy, calling it "abandonment" and a return to the "policy of containment." He said residents of the north had experienced "another weekend of abandonment" and deserved full security, just like residents of central Israel.
Bennett added that a high frequency of sirens had been recorded in the north over the weekend, claiming that "the government is dragging us back to the disgraceful policy of containment." He said the required response was a combination of freedom of action for the Israel Defense Forces and a regional diplomatic initiative, adding that "Dahiyeh must tremble until security returns to the north, but the outgoing coalition is incapable."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir addressed the situation during a visit to Moshav Shtula, near the Lebanese border, and called for particularly harsh action against Lebanon. "Dahiyeh must be flattened. I opposed the previous ceasefire, and I say today, it must be flattened," he said.
Ben Gvir said the IDF was operating forcefully, but that it was not enough and that the damage to the terrorist organization's infrastructure in Lebanon must be expanded.
Yashar party chairman and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot issued sharp criticism of the government's conduct. In a post on X, he argued that Hezbollah's ongoing fire was not fate, but the result of "a lack of leadership."
"A responsible government that had only Israel's security before its eyes would immediately authorize the IDF to operate forcefully and broadly against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, with no hands tied and no restrictions," he said.
Eisenkot added that there was a sense of abandonment among residents and asked, "Where is the government?" while criticizing its focus on other political issues instead of providing a response for the north.
While the political system trades accusations, residents in the north are preparing to take shelter in accordance with the Home Front Command directives.
