Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday unveiled a campaign aimed at increasing Jewish settlement in Arab-majority areas within Israel’s peripheral regions, specifically targeting the northern Galilee and southern Negev. Smotrich characterized Arab residents in these areas as “occupying” the land and signaled intentions to alter the demographic and political composition, drawing parallels to his prior activities in the West Bank.

The initiative, promoted by the Religious Zionism party, includes a campaign advertisement released earlier in the week under the slogan “Ahmed is right to be scared.” The ad features an artificially generated video of a Palestinian from the West Bank addressing an Arab Israeli, warning that Smotrich intends to enact similar policies in these Israeli regions as those pursued in the occupied territories. The AI-generated message suggests that Smotrich plans to “take over land, build towns and farms,” implying that Arab populations will lose control over these areas.

During a press conference, Smotrich attributed the current Arab presence in Israel’s outlying regions to what he described as a “post-Zionist policy” within the Planning Administration, which he accused of enabling Arab expansion. He stated a commitment to replace individuals in the administration whom he considers “post-Zionist and anti-Zionist” to facilitate his agenda.

When questioned about the delay in implementing his plans during the present government’s tenure, Smotrich responded by emphasizing his previous achievements in the West Bank. He declined to provide a detailed explanation for the timeline, simply stating that while the actions in the Galilee and Negev had yet to take place, his track record in other areas justified his position.

The campaign reflects longstanding tensions over land and demographics within Israel and its peripheral regions, with critics warning that such policies could exacerbate conflicts and undermine the rights of Arab citizens. Proponents argue such initiatives are necessary to consolidate Jewish presence and security in areas they describe as strategically important. The announcement signals a potential intensification of efforts to reshape the population distribution in these contested regions.