Bezalel Smotrich announces plan to increase Jewish settlement in Negev and Galilee

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced a plan to significantly increase the Jewish population in the Negev and Galilee regions, which currently have large Arab-Israeli populations. The initiative, presented by Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, aims to settle one million additional Jews in these areas through the construction of 40 new communities, dozens of farms, and hundreds of thousands of housing units.

Smotrich described the initiative as a “revolution” intended to emulate settlement expansion in the West Bank. The plan includes the development of industrial and employment zones and the placement of Zionist professionals in key positions. Smotrich stated the goal is to counter what he termed a “threat to Jewish presence” in areas he claims are being “occupied” by Arab citizens.

The proposal has sparked intense concern among Israel’s Arab minority, who make up approximately 20 to 21 percent of the population. The announcement comes as the country approaches parliamentary elections on October 27, with Smotrich’s party currently polling near the threshold required to enter the next parliament.