Kiryat Shmona Mayor Avichai Stern has urged Israel's government to take decisive military action against Hezbollah ahead of talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in the United States. He said residents of his northern city have spent more than 40 days in shelters while other parts of the country begin easing restrictions and returning to normal routines.

Stern emphasized that the responsibility for ensuring security lies with the government in Jerusalem, not with authorities in Beirut or Washington. He said residents feel abandoned and warned that they do not want to become what he called 'victims of peace,' referencing past periods of conflict and uneasy calm.

Recalling his own childhood spent in shelters, Stern said his generation was promised that their children would not face the same reality. He added that many young families are now choosing to leave the city rather than allow their children to grow up under constant threat, underscoring the growing frustration and fear among residents.