Katz vows 'revolution in settlement' to strengthen Galilee security, Jewish presence in North
The conference convened with the aim of establishing a 10-year plan for encouraging Jewish settlement in the Galilee focused on demographics, land, quality of life, and law enforcement.
Defense Minister Israel Katz pledged a "revolution in settlement" to bolster security and bolster Jewish presence in the Galilee during a Forum for Judaizing the Galilee emergency conference. Katz emphasized that the Galilee holds both national and security significance for Israel, just as the successful settlement efforts in Judea and Samaria led to strengthened security through the establishment of communities and farms.
The forum aimed to devise a ten-year plan to promote Galilee settlement by focusing on four key sectors: demographics, land, quality of life, and law enforcement. The plan addressed urban settlements, a balanced population, expanding construction mandates, and updating data for Arab sector construction plans. Improving quality of life and employment prospects in the region was also a priority, with emphasis on developing transportation infrastructure and attracting industries like high-tech.
To safeguard the plan's implementation, a dedicated coordinating body within the Prime Minister's Office was proposed, along with securing funding for the following decade. Forum chair Dr. Ruth Cabasa Abramson warned that the Galilee's current situation had reached an "emergency" point and called for immediate action, stating that a lack of a strategic plan could cause irreversible damage to Israel.
Defense Minister Katz vowed to do everything in his power, alongside the defense establishment, to ensure the Galilee's prosperity and growth, making it a national objective.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
