Minister Says Hezbollah Sought Inside Control of Kiryat Shmona Through Property Buys

Israel’s Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf told a Cabinet meeting that Hezbollah allegedly encouraged Arab citizens of Israel to purchase apartments in Kiryat Shmona during the war in an effort to “take over the city from within.”

Security officials say the Shin Bet is aware of the issue and is examining the claims, but the information is still considered preliminary. Local authorities note that around 50 Arab residents changed their registered address to Kiryat Shmona over the past month.