עדיי חוששים. פטרול בזרעית
עדיי חוששים. פטרול בזרעיתצילום: רועי שרון. פלאש 90

Yossi Adoni, Chairman of the Zar'it moshav in the Upper Galilee, spoke with Arutz Sheva Sunday about the terror tunnel threat from Lebanon frightening northern residents of Israel, and particularly his moshav. 

Adoni stated that he hoped residents' fear of the existence (and building of tunnels) be disproved, but noted that, "in recent years we have collected dozens of reports and indications of the routes of tunnels. We even brought a number of contractors who attempted to locate the tunnels." 

"These findings were transferred to the army and thankfully the army began to cooperate and do work in the moshav," Adoni continued.

"The goal of the work now is either to deny or approve [the existence of tunnels], and it is our hope there will be no tunnels. We believe there are, but right now we don't want to grasp at faith or feelings. We want to confirm or deny based on the findings." 

Adoni then commented on the private contractors the moshav hired, who all indicated that the tunnel's route took a very specific path. 

"We brought three contractors who use three different methods...we cross-checked the contractors' findings and everyone found the same path of the tunnels."

Adoni called on politicians and policy makers to restore the security of a year and a half ago to communities around the northern border. 

"In November 2013, the IDF and the Ministry of Defense issued an order to pull out security. It was a bizarre decision; residents felt abandoned." 

"Following the terror attack this week, security personnel returned. We hope the tension dissipates and the situation returns to normal, and that we resume a sense of security."

"Unfortunately right now, because there is tension [in the north], and despite the presence of security officers, residents feel less secure."

Adoni stated that distress among Zar'it residents is high and called on the government to help. 

"Residents have grown up here, some of them were born here. No one wants to leave, but on the other hand it is difficult to absorb the ongoing damage to tourism and agriculture." 

"There are no visitors and farmers are not allowed to till the land according to military orders. There are large implications of that for the next season, and we expect the government to help if the ban will continue."