Smotrich Warns of 'Explosion' Over Settler Eviction, Cites October 7 Failures

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has sharply criticized the Jewish National Fund's (JNF) decision to evacuate an agricultural settlement point near Majdal Krum, located in northern Israel. Smotrich characterized the JNF's action as "backing down" in the face of threats and drew a parallel between this incident and the security failures that preceded the October 7th Hamas attacks.

Speaking after the JNF's decision to remove the settlement following protests by Arab residents, Smotrich stated that yielding to violence could lead to consequences similar to those of the security doctrine in place before October 7th. "We know exactly what happens when we ignore the development of dangerous violent threats," he asserted, adding that attempting to buy artificial peace in the present by burying one's head in the sand is a flawed strategy.

Smotrich explicitly compared the settlement's eviction to the security approach Israel had maintained for decades towards Hamas and Hezbollah, which he believes "exploded in our faces" during the October 7th massacre. He elaborated, "This is exactly what is happening now in the Galilee." He further illustrated his point by describing a scenario where a Jewish shepherd is forced to leave a JNF forest due to threats and violence from Arab residents, stating, "This is exactly the same thing."

The minister also addressed the issue of crime within Israel's Arab community, claiming that over a million illegal weapons are in circulation. He warned of "very dangerous undercurrents of nationalism, anti-Zionism, and anti-Semitism" and reiterated that attempts to achieve short-term peace could result in a future "explosion" in October, potentially involving armed vehicles within Israel.

Smotrich concluded by pledging to end the perceived anarchy and "Arab takeover" in the Galilee and the Negev regions. He vowed to restore Israeli governance and "Judaize" the Galilee, drawing a parallel to his actions in the West Bank, which he described as having been carried out with determination and success. He committed to applying the same approach to the Galilee and the Negev.