Katz vows 'revolution in settlement' to strengthen Galilee security, Jewish presence in North

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to lead a 'revolution in settlement' in the Galilee during an emergency conference held by the Forum for Judaizing the Galilee on Sunday. The conference aimed to establish a 10-year plan for encouraging Jewish settlement, focusing on demographics, land, quality of life, and law enforcement. Katz compared the effort to settlement in Judea and Samaria, and the forum called for a coordinating body within the Prime Minister's Office.

Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to lead a 'revolution in settlement' in the Galilee to strengthen security and Jewish presence in the region, speaking at an emergency conference held by the Forum for Judaizing the Galilee on Sunday, August 2, 2026. The conference, hosted by Karmiel Mayor Moshe Koninsky and called by forum chair Dr. Ruth Cabasa Abramson, aimed to establish a 10-year plan for encouraging Jewish settlement, focusing on demographics, land, quality of life, and law enforcement. Katz asserted that strong Jewish settlement in the Galilee is a security objective, drawing parallels to settlement efforts in Judea and Samaria. The plan includes supporting urban settlements that preserve a Jewish character, promoting a population balance, and combating illegal construction. It also outlines improving transportation and high-tech employment to attract residents, and law enforcement operations to reduce crime, including a campaign against illegal firearms and dedicated courts. The forum called for a coordinating body within the Prime Minister's Office and funding for the next decade. Abramson warned that the situation has reached a 'point of no return' and is an emergency, while Katz pledged to do everything possible to achieve the national objective.