Israel intends to "restore order" in the Negev desert in the south of the country and dramatically accelerate the pace of settlement in the region. This was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a working visit to the Western Negev, which took place in light of the growing tension between the Jewish population and the Bedouins living in the desert.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu was accompanied by a number of government officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as a number of other high-ranking officials. He noted that the delegation arrived "for one purpose: to return the Negev to the State of Israel." "This means resettlement on an unprecedented scale, it also means meeting the needs of the Bedouin population.
But above all, it means restoring law and order. Lawlessness reigns in the Negev. We will contain it, and a major Israeli police operation has already begun, which is being carried out with other forces. To do this, we need to understand that criminal and security threats have merged: tens of thousands of weapons, drones crossing borders and other threats," said the Prime Minister.
The Negev occupies more than half of Israel's territory. The desert borders Egypt, and there are regular reports of weapons being smuggled, including via drones, into the Gaza Strip.
