Smotrich Vows 'Judaization' of Galilee After Israeli Flags Removed

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Monday that Israeli flags, initially placed by activists from his "Religious Zionism" party along a street near Majd al-Krum in the Galilee, had been removed. Smotrich, who also leads the "Religious Zionism" party, shared a video on the social platform X showing the flags gone, calling the act "shameful" and blaming "rioters."

The party had previously announced the hanging of approximately 1,000 flags in the Galilee region, specifically in the Shagur area, last Thursday. This action coincided with the party's announcement of a planned meeting in the "Al-Rous" area of Majd al-Krum.

In response to the flag removal, Smotrich declared, "The party is over. What we did in Judea and Samaria, we will also do in the Negev and the Galilee. Yes, Judaization!" The statement implies a commitment to increasing Jewish presence and control in these areas, mirroring actions taken in the West Bank, referred to by Israelis as Judea and Samaria.

The minister's strong reaction and vow to "Judaize" parts of northern Israel signal a hardening stance and potential future actions aimed at demographic and territorial changes in the Galilee and Negev regions.