New Outpost Planned Near Majd al-Krum After Previous Evacuation
A new plan is underway to establish a settlement outpost near the Arab town of Majd al-Krum in Israel's Galilee region, just hundreds of meters from its previous location. The Jewish National Fund (JNF), known as Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, claims ownership of the land where the outpost is intended to be built. This new outpost will be staffed by local guards from the "New Watchman" organization in the Galilee, replacing the settlers from the occupied West Bank who were previously stationed there.
The original outpost, set up by "Hilltop Youth" settlers in the "Al-Rous" area of Majd al-Krum, was dismantled last week following public protests and legal challenges demanding its removal and access for landowners. The eviction involved the removal of tents and the departure of settlers after days of protests and pressure on the police. The local council, in cooperation with the "Adalah" legal center, also pursued legal action.
The JNF had been considering establishing a pastoral outpost in the same area before the previous one was dismantled. The new plan designates the site for grazing, with a maximum of two tents to shelter goats and provide overnight accommodation for guards and storage for supplies. JNF Chairman Eyal Osterinsky visited the area Tuesday, stating the organization intends to re-establish a legally leased pasture.
Osterinsky justified the outpost's re-establishment by claiming it would help prevent wildfires and ensure the safety of both Arab and Jewish residents. He emphasized the new site would be further from Majd al-Krum homes and on land the JNF fully owns, with a reduced number of tents. The shift to local guards from "New Watchman" aims to minimize friction and avoid unnecessary tensions, given their familiarity with the region.
The initial outpost had caused tension as "Hilltop Youth" members erected tents on land claimed by the JNF, with some encroaching on privately owned land belonging to Majd al-Krum residents. This raised fears of a permanent settlement presence and expansion into other Arab lands in the Galilee. While the JNF claims ownership of the land for the new outpost, local data indicates a significant portion of the land previously occupied belonged to a Majd al-Krum resident, with another part controlled by the Israel Land Authority and surrounding land owned by other residents, maintaining concerns about potential settlement expansion.