Settlement Expansion Plans in Galilee and Negev Spark Political Debate

The Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, held a meeting near Majd al-Krum on Wednesday, days after an outpost there was dismantled. This meeting is part of the party's broader electoral program to expand "settlement revolution" from the West Bank into the Negev and Galilee regions. Smotrich announced a plan on August 27th titled "Judaization of the Negev and Galilee," which aims to add approximately one million Jews to these areas by establishing 40 new settlements and towns, alongside expanding existing Jewish communities and constructing hundreds of thousands of housing units. The plan also calls for stricter building law enforcement, reducing illegal construction, and prioritizing Jewish settlement development. Smotrich's proposal includes economic incentives to attract Jewish residents, such as soldiers, reservists, doctors, teachers, and tech workers, aiming to replicate his West Bank settlement "revolution" in the north and south.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed these sentiments, stating on August 30th that his government is working to expand Jewish settlement in the Negev and Galilee. He mentioned preferential treatment for reservists in land acquisition and the establishment of "farms" to bolster settlement, promising to overcome legal obstacles. This approach of linking land access to military service is not new; in February 2024, Netanyahu announced legislation to grant discharged soldiers significant discounts on land in the Galilee and Negev, describing the offer as "almost free" as a reward for service. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also proposed granting free land to combat soldiers in his electoral platform.

The issue gained prominence with the establishment of a temporary encampment by young people from West Bank settlements in the "Al-Rous" area near Majd al-Krum. The outpost, situated on 8.7 dunams of mixed-ownership land, was challenged legally by the Adalah legal center, representing local landowners. While the Jewish National Fund stated the land was leased for grazing, Israeli reports indicated tents, utilities, and furniture were present, with no livestock visible. The outpost was eventually dismantled following protests and legal action.

However, plans emerged to reorganize the activity nearby, focusing on grazing with a limited number of tents for goats and security personnel, managed by the Hashomer Hachadash organization. The Jewish National Fund claims ownership of this new site. The Majd al-Krum incident has become a focal point, highlighting tensions between land management policies, grazing activities, property rights, the expansion of Arab towns, and government efforts to increase Jewish presence in the region. Smotrich's party meeting at the evacuated outpost site links this local issue to the broader political agenda for the Galilee and Negev, underscoring how land in the Galilee has become a central element in a wider political and electoral program.