Smotrich calls to ‘Judaize’ Negev, Galilee as part of his settlement ‘revolution’

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has unveiled a pre-election plan aimed at 'Judaizing' the Negev and Galilee regions. As part of what he describes as a settlement 'revolution,' the proposal includes the establishment of dozens of new towns designed to accommodate one million new Jewish residents. According to the Times of Israel, the plan also explicitly calls for curbing Arab construction in these areas. The proposal, which seeks to alter the demographic composition of these regions, has drawn varied reactions within the Israeli political landscape. Smotrich maintains that these measures are essential to strengthen Jewish presence in the country's peripheral areas.