Until recently, Israel's northern residents were shunted aside in the public discourse about the Iron Swords War. The focus was on the southern residents affected by the horrific massacre on October 7, whereas the northern residents were fortunate enough to have only needed to 'evacuate' and stay in hotels. The escalating fire (not to mention actual wildfires) currently targeting northern settlements has shifted public discussion to those residents who have paid the price and were forced to leave their homes in fear of being harmed by the fire or, God forbid, another massacre.
Current data, eight months after the Hamas attack in the south, show that the tourism industry, once a major attraction for tourists from Israel and abroad, has suffered an enormous loss of 7 billion shekels. It's important to remember that this so-called 'industry' often comprises small businesses, like guesthouses, which provide work and livelihoods in Israel's remote periphery.
The government announced a budget of 3 billion shekels for northern residents intended to compensate for the effects of the war, but this is a drop in the ocean compared to the 19 billion shekels allocated to the southern region. Roughly speaking, this amounts to 400,000 shekels per resident in the south versus only 20,000 shekels per resident in the north. Furthermore, the government did not include compensation for the tourism sector, which, alongside the culinary sector, encompasses small businesses that have been struggling to survive over the past year.
If the government were acting correctly, it would prioritize small businesses, especially those run by women, many of whom are single parents, whose businesses are vital for their livelihoods. These could be guesthouses, family restaurants, small bakeries, chocolate workshops, jeep tours, petting zoos, spa facilities, and more, attracting visitors from the center who enjoy integrating attractions during their northern trips.
Let's assume that tomorrow the war in the north and south ends, and northern residents return to homes they were uprooted from for eight months. The day after, immediately upon returning, they need to re-establish businesses that have been inactive for many months. Clearly, they need money to start everything anew.
Take, for example, Olga, who owns a small factory near Kiryat Shmona producing award-winning alcoholic liqueurs. Olga not only lost access to her factory, but also her continuous production capabilities, as her liqueurs are made from agricultural fruits sourced from local farmers in the Golan Heights, who were unable to access their fields and orchards. The loss is not just in terms of immediate revenue but also the accumulated debts during this time. Will the government assist Olga and other northern business owners in repaying these debts and rebuilding?
This is not about a wave of charity that the government needs to provide to silence protest against it. These are economic and industrial businesses that create employment for many families, contributing to turning the northern region into an attractive area that stands on its own and serves as a source of pride not only for its residents but for all of us as citizens.
However, it's not just the government's responsibility. Social solidarity is also required from residents of central Israel towards women in the north. If each of us buys a service or product from a business located in the north, it can help them recover. Purchases should be future-oriented, such as booking annual vacations a year in advance. While this may seem unconventional, it can greatly support these businesses and showcase our collective strength as a society and as women in these challenging times.
October 7 is a date of terrible significance and will forever be etched in the collective memory of the nation, but in hindsight, it can also be our wake-up call and teach us something about solidarity - and women's solidarity in particular.
