Jewish National Fund Opposes Law Expanding Israeli Farms in Galilee, Negev

The Jewish National Fund (JNF), known as Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), has voiced opposition to a law that would permit the establishment of settlements and farms in grazing and forest areas. The JNF argues that these farms cause damage to forests and open spaces. This opposition comes as the Israeli government actively promotes this model in the Galilee and Negev regions as a strategy for land control, mirroring the pastoral settlement approach in the occupied West Bank.

A specific instance highlighted is in Majd al-Krum, where a settlement outpost was recently established in the al-Rous area, within the town's jurisdiction. Local communities have warned that this could lead to a permanent settlement presence, threatening residents' land and access. The JNF has informed the Supreme Court of its opposition to the grazing area housing law ahead of a hearing on a petition against it. The JNF contends that the type of grazing associated with individual farms harms forest areas, contradicting a key argument by proponents that grazing helps prevent fires.

The issue is particularly significant for Arab communities in the Galilee and Negev, especially after the Majd al-Krum incident. Settlers from West Bank settlements established a compound in the al-Rous area, near land owned by Majd al-Krum residents. The outpost was equipped with water lines, tents, and buildings, with settlers present continuously, raising local fears of a permanent fixture and obstruction of access to adjacent lands.

The Majd al-Krum Local Council and Popular Committee had warned that the outpost was an attempt to "impose a new reality on the ground" that infringes on the town's geographical space and landowners' rights. Although the JNF initially dismantled tents erected by settlers, concerns remain about the plan's potential revival in other forms, especially as these farms become part of a broader government policy.

The Misgav Regional Council, surrounding Arab towns, had approved the farm's establishment, while two settlements, Gilon and Tzurit, opposed it for their own reasons. The Knesset passed the law last year, allowing a joint government team to designate grazing areas needing "protection for herds" and permit farms with housing for shepherds and their families. An initial order under the law covered seven northern areas, and it also includes provisions for regularizing illegally built farms within the Green Line and prioritizes these farm plans over national master plans, even in protected areas.

Proponents of the law cited the need for housing near grazing areas to combat "agricultural crime," using farms to preserve "state lands," and the claim that grazing reduces vegetation and prevents fires. However, the JNF distinguishes between mobile grazing managed by professionals and permanent grazing tied to individual farms, arguing the latter causes greater damage to forests. They also noted that previous amendments already allowed limited housing for workers without extensive infrastructure, whereas the new law permits permanent settlement for shepherds and their families, which they believe will significantly harm forest areas and their management.

The Nature and Parks Authority petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing the law damages open areas by allowing construction, development, roads, lighting, and infrastructure, bypassing standard planning procedures. The state defended the law, asserting it balances grazing protection with open space preservation and planning principles, calling it an "exceptional arrangement" but not unconstitutional. The Regional Governance Center, representing regional councils, supported the petition, citing planning bypasses and the burden of providing services for families in open areas, questioning the effectiveness of farms versus dedicated guards for land protection.

This opposition is part of a larger context where individual farms have become a tool for strengthening Jewish control over land within Israel and the West Bank. Ministers and Knesset members openly support them as a means to "Judaize" large areas, particularly in the Galilee and Negev. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich promoted a plan for dozens of settlements and "Jewish farms" in these regions, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced support last August for introducing farms into the Negev and Galilee to "strengthen settlement just as we did in Judea and Samaria." This mirrors the West Bank model, where pastoral settlements are used to control vast territories, with over 542 settlements and outposts in the West Bank, and a significant increase in new outposts since October 2023.