Smotrich Launches Unprecedented Initiative to Establish New Settlements in Negev and Galilee

The Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has launched an unprecedented initiative to establish new "settlement nuclei" in the Negev and Galilee regions of Israel. The party announced the opening of online registration for individuals interested in participating in this project, aiming to significantly increase the Jewish population in these areas.

The plan, as outlined by the party, includes adding one million Jews to the Negev and Galilee, establishing 40 new communities, dozens of farms, and substantially expanding existing settlements, providing hundreds of thousands of housing solutions. The dedicated website allows prospective participants to register their details and specify their preferred region of involvement, whether the Negev, Galilee, or both.

Smotrich stated that his party perceives the Negev and Galilee as facing a potential "loss of control," viewing calls for a Palestinian state as a "Zionist alarm bell." He emphasized the party's commitment to practical action over mere rhetoric, initiating the "Ken Mehadeem" (meaning "Yes, we are Judaizing") project to attract new participants for what he described as the Judaization of these regions. He asserted that "wherever there is Jewish settlement, there is security."

This move comes amid reports that the Jewish National Fund (JNF) decided to evacuate a site established near Majd al-Krum, a development linked to the establishment of the site in the area. The Religious Zionism party's initiative is presented in this context, with the online platform providing registered individuals with specific information about the nucleus locations and development stages.

The initiative's stated goals include expanding Jewish settlement through new communities and farms, enlarging existing ones, and providing extensive housing solutions. Registration continues via the party's dedicated platform.