New Jewish Outpost Near Majd al-Krum Sparks Renewed Concerns

A popular committee member in Majd al-Krum, Raouf Hamoud, expressed new concerns over the establishment of a Jewish outpost near the town, stating that its relocation does not resolve the issue. The new site is reportedly about 400 meters from the previous one. Hamoud indicated that the local committee and authority will investigate whether the new location falls within Majd al-Krum's jurisdiction.

According to Israeli reports, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) chairman, Eyal Ostrovsky, announced the relocation of a grazing point and the replacement of its previous occupants with members of the "Hashomer Hachadash" organization. While the site will continue to be used for grazing with limited infrastructure, Hamoud remains wary.

Hamoud highlighted that "Hashomer Hachadash" defines its mission as strengthening settlement on the borders, with its official materials indicating its settlement division promotes Jewish civilian presence along Israel's borders, viewing continuous civilian presence as crucial for border protection. He also noted a JNF announcement of a joint project with "Hashomer Hachadash" for 2026, budgeted at over 30 million shekels.

The primary concern, Hamoud explained, is not the presence of Arab or Jewish farmers, but the potential for the new site, presented as a grazing point, to become a permanent settlement. He stressed that the project's true nature will be determined by its actual development on the ground.

Hamoud described the dialogue between local authorities and the JNF as having deteriorated into "a dialogue of the deaf," citing a lack of clear information exchange. He views the issue as part of a broader discussion about the future of land and Arab presence in the Galilee, urging public and legal follow-up.

These developments follow protests against the previous outpost, which the JNF was ordered to dismantle before establishing the new grazing point nearby. The situation also aligns with statements by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in August regarding strengthening Jewish settlement in the Galilee and Negev, drawing parallels to settlement experiences in the West Bank.