Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon warned on Tuesday that if Israel does not get serious about increasing the Jewish presence in the Galilee and Negev regions, the Arabs living there may try to break away in the future.
Following a speech at conference titled "The Realization of Zionism: Strengthening the Periphery," Ayalon told Israel National News that "if there won’t be a Jewish majority in the Negev and the Galilee it could lay the groundwork for a legal national claim by Arabs, either for autonomy or secession from the State of Israel."
Ayalon said he came to that conclusion after visiting both the Negev and Galilee and realizing how few Israeli Jews were living there, and how much Arab construction was taking place, both legal and illegal.
Israel is often wary of opposing the illegal Arab construction for fear of international condemnation.