Mishmar HaEmek Residents Denounce New Settlement Outpost in Galilee

Residents, the Popular Committee, and the local council of Majd al-Krum have strongly condemned the establishment of a new settlement outpost in the al-Rous area, within the town's jurisdiction. The outpost is situated on land belonging to the "Permanent Fund for Israel (KKL)" or the "Israel Land Authority," though a significant portion of the al-Rous land is privately owned by Majd al-Krum residents.

In a joint statement, the Popular Committee and local council reported that the situation is escalating with the outpost receiving a water line, tents and structures being erected, and settlers frequently present in the area. The settlers claim to have come from a West Bank settlement, raising serious concerns about their permanent establishment and the outpost becoming a fixture.

The presence of these settlers, described as "hilltop youth," is causing significant anxiety among neighboring landowners who fear potential confrontations or harassment when accessing their fields, especially with the olive harvest season approaching.

The Popular Committee and local council highlighted that these developments occur within a dangerous political context, coinciding with official plans to bolster Jewish settlement and alter the demographic landscape of the Galilee. They referenced a ten-year plan presented in July at a conference in Karmiel, involving Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz, aimed at strengthening Jewish settlement in the Galilee through initiatives related to settlement, demographics, land, planning, and infrastructure.

They emphasized that the al-Rous outpost should not be viewed as a temporary presence or agricultural activity but as the imposition of a new reality on the ground, infringing upon the property rights of Majd al-Krum residents, threatening their land access, and encroaching on the town's geographical space.

Concerns were also raised about potential approval from the Misgav Regional Council and the local planning and building committee, questioning the legal and administrative basis for allowing a settlement to be established in an area under Majd al-Krum's jurisdiction and on land largely owned by its residents.

The statement concluded by asserting that the establishment of the al-Rous outpost is categorically rejected and will not be accepted as a fait accompli. The local council and Popular Committee pledged to intensely follow the matter and take legal and administrative action.