Rebuilding after war with Hezbollah – guesthouses in northern Israel pick up the pieces

Sometimes called the Switzerland of Israel, the country’s northern region is verdant and ideal for summer vacations. But for those in the hospitality industry, it has been a long, hard wait to rebuild their shattered businesses after the rocket barrages that have battered the area since the start of the Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza war. Today, communities there are clearing rubble and starting over, even as the scars of war remain visible all around.

Many buildings have been damaged in the relentless rocket attacks, and several people have been killed including 12 children who were playing football in Migdal Shams. The area near the Lebanese border, deemed too dangerous to live in, has been almost entirely emptied of residents for more than a year. Evacuees from the north have taken shelter further south, staying temporarily in hotels, kibbutzes, or with family and friends.

Now that Hezbollah has been effectively declawed, guesthouse and hotel owners are returning to northern Israel, trying to put the pieces back together and restart their businesses. Somewhat surprisingly, Israelis have been just as eager to vacation in the north as business owners are to host them.

KAN News interviewed some Israelis who spent their vacation there, in solidarity with the beleaguered business owners. Merav and Arik went to stay in a hotel in Metula. “I didn’t come to strengthen the north. I leave strengthened from seeing the north, that’s the truth,” says Merav, promising to book for next year as well.

Similarly, Dov, together with 41 family members, rented out every room at the Lev HaHoresh guesthouse in Shomera. “I knew there were ruined houses here, I knew they took a hit, I said: “Get ready, we’re coming with all the kids, all the grandkids, everyone here,” he said.

With anti-Israel sentiment at an all-time high around the world, vacations in European destinations like Greece and Italy have become less of an appealing prospect. Israeli tourists have been treated harshly, even experiencing violence, leading many to consider a "staycation" in Israel instead. 

“It didn’t take long for people to start coming,” one business owner said with some surprise. “The moment there was a ceasefire, people were already calling to book. By the first weekend in March there were already people here.”

Some resorts were hit several times by Hezbollah rockets and had to be restored. Yet there is a great sense of optimism and courage, both from the business owners, eager to get back on their feet, and also their undeterred guests.

“There was absolutely no fear. Everyone was happy to come back to Yaron, to Shomera, to the villas, to this fun, to the north,” said Dov.

Eitan Gabay from Metula has moved fast to repair the damage to his property and reopen the booking calendar, saying, “The north has awakened, people are coming to the guesthouses,” adding “bookings started coming in and July-August was full.”

There are thought to be some 3,000 guest rooms in the north, only about half of which are currently open for business. Repairing rocket damage and the toll of lying empty for so long has proved to be prohibitively expensive for many, who just cut their losses and left. The state is supposed to help with the costs of war damage, but legal wrangling about what counts as Israel’s responsibility and what doesn’t has left many with enormous financial burdens.

For those willing and able to start again, restoring the building is just the beginning. Finding staff to man the operation has also proved to be a huge challenge. 

“How do bookings look for the coming months?” asked Miriam Hod from the Beit Shalom hotel in Metula. “I can’t commit. I depend on people, there are no workers. It was very hard to find people to come work here because most people didn’t return.”

“We’re running on fumes,” said Hod, “but we won’t give up, the place will be even better than it was.”

It is estimated that 60% have not yet reopened for business, according to the KAN 11 report, but those who have are finding there’s no shortage of people willing to come.

“People leave here now and during checkout they make a future booking for a year ahead. It warms the heart,” said one business owner with gratitude. “Today this is the safest place.”