Majd al-Krum residents push back against settler outpost

Residents of Majd al-Krum in northern Israel removed a settler outpost from the al-Rus hilltop last month, marking a direct challenge to a land claim that many believe signals the intentions of the country's far-right political bloc.

The dispute began in late August when West Bank settlers arrived on the pine-covered slope. They cited a grazing permit from the Jewish National Fund, although villagers noted no livestock was present. Within a week, the camp expanded to house 25 to 30 people, equipped with a kitchen, toilet, water line, and electricity. Hussein Mannaa, a member of the town's Popular Committee, described the structure as one of the first such attempts on the Israeli side of the Green Line.

Protests started on September 13. Hundreds of Palestinians from Majd al-Krum and surrounding areas traveled to the site daily, walking, riding horses, or driving off-road vehicles, even after police closed the road. Anas Sgaier, a 21-year-old law student, recalled an 80-year-old woman walking for 50 minutes with her husband to demonstrate presence. By September 16, the JNF ordered the tents removed after nearly a week of peaceful demonstrations.

Local leaders link the incident to the campaign of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. On August 27, he published a plan to add one million Jews and 40 new communities to the Galilee and al-Naqab regions. He has pledged to repeat the demographic changes seen in the West Bank in this area. Economic consultant Husein Khalaily called the al-Rus camp a pilot experiment. Smotrich later campaigned in the village using police and a water cannon, while local committees urged young residents to avoid physical confrontation.

Police arrested a 32-year-old resident on September 18 on suspicion of contact with a Lebanese agent. Smotrich stated that Galilee residents were in the atmosphere of October 6. Mannaa argued that these actions aim to force a confrontation, noting that chaos benefits the authorities. The JNF says the grazing initiative will move to a plot 500 meters away, but villagers reject any relocation on land they consider theirs.

The conflict may influence voting turnout in Tuesday's election. Polls indicate neither major Zionist bloc can secure 61 seats without Arab party support. Participation among Palestinian citizens has historically ranged from 45 to 65 percent, but organizers expect 70 to 75 percent this time. Mannaa predicted Majd al-Krum would surpass 80 percent. Khalaly, a longtime boycotter, now urges people to vote to remove prominent racists, while Sgaier maintains his stance that the Knesset offers little difference between the two main blocs.

The site is now mostly empty, leaving behind sparse remains and Hebrew graffiti. Villagers continue to climb the mountain daily for barbecues and play. Singer Khaled Kewan, 27, recorded the song Ibn Bladi during the protests and warned that Judaisation efforts are coming for the entire Galilee.