Metula Council Head David Azoulay referred to the northern rehabilitation plan in an interview with ynet studio, saying that "this is a decision that tells everyone the same thing. This is not a good day for the north." According to him, it's a "hysterical decision, not historic. It's too little and too late, as if they're doing us a favor. We don't want to be dependent on the Israeli government. Make a decision for each municipality. What suits it and what it needs, and give us five years of quiet to start moving forward."