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 seeks control over the Planning Administration and the Israel Land Authority (ILA) to push through his agenda, stating, "We will crush procedures and people to allow farms to be established." Smotrich emphasized removing what he calls anti- and post-Zionist elements from these systems and replacing them with individuals aligned with the goal of Judaizing these areas, asserting he will pursue this through legislation without pleading to bureaucrats or legal advisors.

The plan envisions a national target of adding one million Jews by creating 40 new communities, expanding existing settlements, and developing hundreds of thousands of housing units. Although the Finance Minister did not specify the cost, he indicated existing plans would serve as a foundation. The Religious Zionism party intends to demand control over land and planning authorities in the next government, aiming for deep reforms including legislative changes, removing bureaucratic obstacles, and prioritizing professionals with nationalist views in key positions.

Smotrich criticized the past 20 years of planning policies as post-Zionist, accusing them of favoring large-scale Arab settlement expansion in the Galilee that he says suffocates Jewish communities. He pledged to cancel these plans and reverse the trend. When asked about specific personnel removals, he declined to name individuals but promised to oust post- and anti-Zionist officials who he claims are leading Israel toward ruin.

A significant part of the plan focuses on national security and governance, citing a Shin Bet report estimating one million illegal weapons in Israel's Arab society. Smotrich proposes involving Shin Bet in combating illegal arms in the Negev and north, and enacting emergency national legislation to fight crime with harsh measures. Illegal weapon possession would be defined as terrorism, allowing broad use of administrative detentions. He called for dismantling armed Arab autonomy in places like Bir al-Abed and Tuba-Zangariyye, threatening 10-year prison terms for illegal arms possession and rejecting standard criminal procedures in favor of "draconian" wartime measures.

The plan includes building a detention facility for new detainees at an estimated cost of 1.2 billion shekels. Smotrich accused the current system of abandoning Israeli citizens and called for judicial reforms to appoint "good judges" who will support opening these areas for Jewish settlement. He warned that if the left appoints judges, Arab control will continue to expand.