Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, northern Israeli communities have experienced widespread civilian evacuation. The ongoing security situation and resulting absence of residents have created conditions that allow wild animals to cross into Israel unchecked from Lebanon and Syria.
These animals enter through breaches in the border fence. In some cases, soldiers have unknowingly brought puppies found in the field - potential carriers of the deadly rabies virus -back with them.
As of this year, 35 rabies cases have been recorded in northern Israel, compared to only 14 last year.
Hundreds of rabid dogs have crossed into Israel from Lebanon
But the prolonged evacuation and abandonment of the northern region have led to further issues. In some farming communities in the Galilee and Golan Heights, dead livestock are being improperly discarded in dumpsters and open fields, attracting wild animals into residential areas.
In a sharply worded letter sent to the agriculture and health ministers, as well as to Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, leaders of the Eastern Galilee municipal cluster, are calling on the government to declare the rabies outbreak a national emergency and intensify efforts to combat it. They warn that the problem is no longer confined to remote rural areas but has reached larger towns, with new cases now being found in cats and foxes, a phenomenon not seen in years.
Alongside concerns over cross-border animal invasions, local officials criticized the Agriculture Ministry for ending national funding in 2026 for programs to reduce the street cat population. They say the decision has led to rapid growth in the number of stray cats, while the virus is spreading among them.
"This move is harming all of us," said one of the regional council leaders. Dr. Arieli Boznach, head of veterinary services for the Eastern Galilee cluster, told Yedioth Ahronoth that "eliminating this outbreak and protecting residents and animals requires full cooperation between all government agencies."
The Agriculture Ministry said in response: “Since the start of 2025, only one case of rabies has been recorded in the Eastern Galilee cluster, found in a stray cat in the village of Alma. The neutering and spaying program for cats is mainly aimed at controlling population size and reducing public nuisance, rather than preventing rabies. Responsibility for handling stray dogs and cats rests with local authorities."
The IDF spokesperson said in a statement that: “This issue is known and being addressed by the relevant entities within Northern Command. The barrier being built along the Lebanon border is expected to help prevent animals from crossing. In addition, the IDF is working to seal holes in the fence that currently allow animal passage."
In November 2024, a northern Israel resident died after contracting rabies from a Belgian shepherd that had not been vaccinated.