Lower Thirds: 

0:03	Report by | Emily Gordine
0:37	Hagar Erlich | Kibbutz Manara resident
1:13	Emily Gordine | DW correspondent
1:49	Ariel Frish | Municipality spokesperson
2:30	Hagar Erlich | Kibbutz Manara resident

((info: Over two years ago, thousands of Israelis were evacuated from the country’s north as a result of heavy crossfire between Hezbollah and Israel. Today, many still can’t return because their houses were destroyed in the fighting and reconstruction is still ongoing. But the conflict also exacerbated existing issues in the region that’s making it harder to attract people. Emily Gordine reports from kibbutz Menara.  ))

 Script: 

This is the first line of defence.  

Kibbutz Manara is a good vantage point, perched on a ridge on Israel’s northern border. It’s also highly exposed.  

Hagar Erlich used to live here –  

+++SOT+++Erlich, Kibbutz Manara member:   
This is my house. And this is the house of my son. 

Hagar Erlich, Kibbutz member: 
They shoot from here, from all these houses. They shoot straight to Manara. 

Hezbollah rockets damaged or destroyed most buildings here. 

Residents had to evacuate.  

+++SOT Hagar Erlich, Kibbutz member: +++
We feel so safe and happy in the day before the war, and now we just always thinking what could happen. So it's very, very, very, very hard to decide what you what you want.  

((we go inside))  
 
300 people used to live in Manara. 
 
The commune has decided to rebuild these abandoned homes. 

 Many residents ARE finally returning after two years.  
 
Hagar wants to as well. 

 PTC Emily Gordine, DW correspondent:  
Manara has always been a fairly small kibbutz and the people here have a very strong sense of community. While it will take some time, they will want to come back to their home. But the wider region here, the upper Galilee region faces bigger structural issues. 
 
A little back from the border, down in the valley, is the regional center of Kiryat Shemona. 

  It also endured heavy blows in the war.  
 
A third of residents are yet to return – a huge loss for the city. 

 +++SOT Ariel Frish, municipality spokesperson: +++
We have less than 50% of business that are open. This is greatest engine and motive to people to live here. When you don’t have work, you can be as much idealist as you won’t, you need to feed your kids. 

 The city is opening a university – to attract more Israelis to the north.  
 
In Manara, reconstruction is already underway - funded by the state and a wealthy donor from Canada.  

 Hagar’s new house will look like one of these modular homes.  
 
Returning is important for her. 
 
Hagar Erlich, Kibbutz member: 
We understand that if we don’t sit here, the border will be near Kiryat Shemone and the Hezbollah can sit on the head of Kiryiat Shemone. And we have to sit here and to keep the border. 
 
So, life in Manara continues in defiance of the dangers that lurk so near.  

END