In Galilee Panhandle settlements, life returned to normal today around 09:30, after the Israel Defense Forces permitted residents to leave the shelters and return to their regular lives following a tension filled night.
Schools opened, but few students attended, since many of them had left with their families to nearby settlements and apparently did not manage to return in time.
Places of work in Kiryat Shmona and local authorities in the vicinity were back in operation, and most employees reported for work. "We are happy to return to normal and not lose a day’s work, since, on the basis of the Ministry of Finance’s policy, no compensation is paid to employers or employees for the loss of one day, which ultimately falls on their shoulders," said Kiryat Shmona mayor Haim Barbibai.
Tension in the security zone of South Lebanon continued. During the day, there was a great deal of aerial activity by the IDF, with airplanes and helicopters circling the area, scanning for suspicious terrorist movement in the various sectors.
During the morning, there were heavy exchanges of fire between the IDF and terrorists in the security zone. The terrorists started a heavy artillery barrage on IDF and SLA positions in the central and eastern sectors. The IDF returned fire. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
Published by Israel's Business Arena June 21, 1999