Mizpe Ramon Council Denies Removing Israeli Flags, Cites Wind

The Popular Committee of Majd al-Krum, represented by lawyer Murad Khatib, has refuted accusations that residents removed Israeli flags placed along Road 85 near the town. Khatib stated on Radio al-Shams that the flags fell due to wind and were collected by police. He suggested the accusations are part of a campaign to incite against the Arab community.

Earlier, activists from the Religious Zionism party reportedly hung hundreds of flags in the Galilee, near Majd al-Krum. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich linked the flag removal to political messages concerning the expansion of Jewish settlement in the Galilee and the Negev.

Khatib explained that the Popular Committee and local council decided against direct confrontation with those who hung the flags, especially given the heavy security presence during Smotrich's visit. He also noted that tensions have escalated beyond the flags, with settlers in the area reportedly posting videos threatening to burn Majd al-Krum. The committee and council are holding regular meetings to monitor developments and plan responses.

Khatib also addressed land issues, mentioning that a previous outpost in the area, which included land from the Jewish National Fund and private Arab ownership, was dismantled after public and legal action. He stated that information about a new plot designated for grazing, about 400 meters south of the area, has not yet materialized into a concrete step. The committee seeks to identify the exact location and its jurisdiction before taking legal action.

Khatib questioned the suitability of the proposed grazing area, given its description as a measure to prevent fires, and affirmed that the committee will monitor any new developments and address them through legal and popular channels.