Israel's finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, used his social media platform to call for the replication of the settlement model currently applied in the occupied West Bank in two domestic regions: the Galilee in the north and the Negev in the south. He framed the proposal as a preventive measure aimed at strengthening the state's security in the wake of the October 7 attacks.
In his statement, Smotrich argued that extending the settlement framework to these areas would serve as a safeguard for the nation. He linked the need for such a policy shift to recent demonstrations in a town where participants reportedly chanted slogans supporting Palestine, suggesting that these events underscored a perceived vulnerability within the Galilee and Negev.
The minister did not provide specific details regarding the mechanisms of implementation, such as land allocation, funding, or administrative oversight. However, he emphasized that the initiative would mirror the approach taken in Judea and Samaria, the term used by Israeli officials for the West Bank, where settlement expansion has been a longstanding and contentious policy.
Smotrich's remarks come amid ongoing debates within Israel over the future of settlement activity and its impact on both domestic demographics and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics have warned that extending settlement policies to additional regions could exacerbate tensions and complicate any prospects for a negotiated settlement.
The finance minister's proposal also raises questions about the legal and political ramifications of applying settlement policies to areas that are internationally recognized as part of Israel's sovereign territory. While the West Bank settlements are considered illegal under most international law interpretations, the status of new settlements within the Galilee and Negev would be subject to different legal assessments.
No official response from other government ministries or opposition parties has been reported at the time of writing. The proposal is expected to generate further discussion in the Knesset and among civil society groups concerned with land use, security, and the demographic composition of the country.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/smotrich-calls-expanding-west-bank-settlement-policies-israels-north-and.