Smotrich Pledges Aggressive Plan to Judaize Negev and Galilee Ahead of Elections

Ahead of the upcoming elections, Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionism party, unveiled his "Yes. We Judaize!" plan aimed at intensifying Jewish settlement in the Negev and Galilee regions. He announced intentions to take control of the Planning Administration and the Israel Land Authority (ILA) to expedite settlement development, stating, "We will crush procedures and people to allow farms to be established." Smotrich emphasized removing "anti- and post-Zionist elements" from these systems and replacing them with officials aligned with national Zionist goals, asserting he would not seek permission from bureaucrats or legal advisors.

The plan includes a national target of adding one million Jews through establishing 40 new communities, expanding existing settlements, and creating hundreds of thousands of housing units. While the Finance Minister did not specify the cost, he noted existing plans would serve as a foundation. The party aims to overhaul land and planning mechanisms, shorten bureaucratic processes, and prioritize professionals with Zionist-nationalist perspectives in key positions.

Smotrich criticized the current planning policies as "post-Zionist," accusing them of disproportionately favoring Arab settlements in the Galilee, which he claims suffocate Jewish communities. He pledged to cancel such plans and reverse the trend. Regarding personnel changes, he vowed to remove those he described as undermining Israel and replace them with individuals committed to implementing the policy.

Security concerns are central to the proposal, citing a Shin Bet report estimating one million illegal weapons in Israel's Arab society. Smotrich called for Shin Bet involvement in combating illegal arms in the Negev and north and proposed a temporary national order to fight crime with "draconian" measures, including defining illegal arms possession as terrorism and enabling broad administrative detentions. He warned that illegal weapons possession could lead to a 10-year prison sentence and stressed dismantling what he termed "armed Arab autonomy."

The plan also includes building a detention facility for new detainees at an estimated cost of 1.2 billion shekels. Smotrich criticized the current system as failing Israeli citizens and linked his reforms to judicial changes, asserting that appointing "good judges" is crucial to advancing these policies. He warned that if the political left appoints judges, Arab communities would continue to expand their influence in these regions.