Jewish National Fund to Dismantle Illegal Outpost Near Majd al-Krum

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has decided to immediately dismantle temporary structures and tents erected in an agricultural area near the Arab town of Majd al-Krum, following a dispute over the site. The decision came after an emergency meeting held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

The JNF stated that the possibility of re-establishing the structures would be examined based on whether a flock of sheep is present at the location. The controversy erupted after tents, water, and electricity infrastructure were installed in the area situated between Majd al-Krum and the Jewish community of Gilon.

Residents of Majd al-Krum, along with local authorities and activists, protested the construction, alleging it was an attempt to establish a new settlement outpost on their land, potentially hindering their access to private olive groves ahead of the upcoming harvest season. Approximately 500 residents demonstrated at the site to halt the work, and they also announced plans to pursue legal action regarding the permits issued by the Israel Land Authority and other relevant bodies.

Those who leased the land, however, denied the claims of establishing a settlement. They told N12 that the land was leased from the JNF for sheep grazing purposes only. They explained that volunteers, including residents from other areas and young people from a preparatory academy in Karmiel, were assisting in setting up a compound for the sheep, not for permanent settlement.

During a solidarity rally for the residents of Majd al-Krum, protest activist Alon Li Green was arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Green is a known activist with the "Standing Together" movement and co-chair of the "Place for Everyone" party.

In response to the escalating tensions, 260 Jewish and Arab local leaders and social activists sent a letter to the JNF chairman, urging immediate action to prevent further escalation and preserve shared life in the Galilee. The signatories warned that allowing a group to establish a physical presence to advance a nationalist agenda could lead to a permanent presence and set a dangerous precedent.