Finance Minister Smotrich Reveals Over One Million Illegal Weapons in Arab Sector, Plans Crackdown
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich outlined his party's key demands and planned actions for the upcoming coalition in a recent press briefing. He declared his intention to secure control over the Israel Land Authority and the Planning Administration, threatening to remove any anti-Zionist elements obstructing their plans. Smotrich also announced that if his party gains enough seats, Smicha Rotman will be appointed Minister of Justice.
During the briefing, Smotrich revealed findings from a recent security tour at a Shin Bet facility, reporting over one million illegal weapons in the Arab sector, including magazines, assault rifles, and explosives. He called for harsher penalties, proposing that illegal arms possession be classified as a terrorism offense punishable by ten years in prison, and arms trafficking by twenty years. He warned that Israel's prison capacity will need to expand to accommodate thousands of new inmates.
On planning and settlement issues, Smotrich vowed to cancel development plans and expansions in Arab communities that he claims restrict Jewish settlement growth, advocating for what he termed "corrective discrimination" favoring Jewish communities. He criticized opposition to these plans, singling out Arab parties and some left-wing factions. Smotrich also dismissed criticism of his budget allocations, asserting that funding for Israel's border regions and the north, south, and Galilee under his tenure far exceeds that for the West Bank.
He concluded by referencing a planned event on October 7 in the Galilee, suggesting it will be significantly more impactful than previous initiatives.
