National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday defended the government’s enforcement campaign against illegal construction in the Negev and vowed that demolition efforts will continue despite a major Bedouin protest planned for Thursday.

Speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026 Local Government Conference, Ben Gvir said authorities had significantly increased enforcement against unauthorized structures, claiming that approximately 5,700 illegal homes had been demolished over the past year.

The minister’s remarks came amid reports that some Bedouin families displaced by recent demolitions had moved into public facilities, including a school in Tel Arad. Ben Gvir said he had been informed of threats related to the enforcement campaign but insisted that the policy would not change.

“Let them prepare many places,” he said. “I am going to demolish more and more of these structures.”

Ben Gvir argued that previous governments had failed to adequately address illegal construction in the Negev and said enforcement must be applied equally across all sectors.

At the same time, he emphasized that the campaign is directed at illegal building rather than the Bedouin community as a whole.

“Anyone who builds legally is welcome. Anyone who obeys the law, I will embrace,” he said. “But when someone builds illegally, enforcement must be carried out equally.”

The comments come ahead of a planned demonstration by Bedouin residents protesting recent demolitions and government enforcement actions in southern Israel.

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