Arab Center for Alternative Planning Opposes New Settlement Outpost in Majd al-Krum

The Arab Center for Alternative Planning (ACAP) has issued a position paper opposing the establishment of a new settlement outpost in the "al-Rous" area on the outskirts of Majd al-Krum, a town in Israel's Galilee region. The outpost is reportedly being set up by groups known as "Hilltop Youth."

ACAP's review, based on official planning data, reveals that the disputed land parcel, approximately 8.7 dunams, falls within the jurisdiction of the Majd al-Krum local council and is designated within the village's urban fabric according to plan "TAMA 35." The center states that 50% of this land is privately owned by residents of Majd al-Krum, with the other 50% belonging to the state.

ACAP argues that under Israeli planning principles, existing communities take precedence. This means the needs of Majd al-Krum for housing, services, and public areas must be met before any new settlement can be established within its development zone. The center asserts that including the land within the village's urban fabric signifies it is part of the village's development space.

The center further contends that the outpost is not an isolated incident but part of a broader policy to "Judaize" the Galilee. It claims such outposts are used as demographic tools to stifle the urban expansion of Arab villages and create contiguous settlement blocs around them, with official and financial support.

ACAP's position paper calls for the immediate and complete evacuation of the outpost, protection of private property rights, cessation of any new attempts to establish it, and adherence to a transparent planning process that respects the village's fabric and residents' needs. The center affirmed its commitment to defending citizens' rights and their entitlement to fair and equal urban planning.