Settlement Outpost Near Majd al-Krum Evacuated and Relocated

Settlers and the Israel Land Authority began evacuating a settlement outpost located on Russian lands near the town of Majd al-Krum on Wednesday. The outpost is being moved approximately 500 meters to a new, nearby location. The decision to dismantle the outpost was made by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), which had leased the land to the settlers, following an emergency meeting. The JNF is also considering the possibility of establishing a pastoral settlement in the same area.

Anas Saghir, an activist with the Majd al-Krum popular movement, stated that the evacuation was achieved through the "united efforts of the Palestinian community within Israel." He confirmed that settlers were seen dismantling tents and structures from the site. Saghir emphasized that the community will continue to monitor the situation legally and popularly, to ascertain the nature of the new location and the land it occupies.

Montaser Mansour, another local activist, described the relocation as a "tactical step" to alleviate popular pressure resulting from recent protests. He believes the move is intended to reduce public opposition and shift the settlement activity to land managed by the JNF or the Gilon company. Mansour warned that this is part of a broader Israeli settler project, particularly in areas with a Palestinian majority, and urged continued popular protest to prevent further expansion.

Ibrahim Khlayleh, a landowner in the Russian area, expressed his determination to hold onto his ancestral land despite facing difficulties and financial offers to relinquish it. He recounted how parts of his family's land, originally around 30 dunams and cultivated in the 1990s, were confiscated in the 1960s. Khlayleh voiced concerns about the potential dangers of settlement outposts, citing past incidents of violence and destruction in other areas, and stressed the importance of his continuous presence on his land to protect it as an inheritance for future generations.