Protests erupt in Galilee town against new settler outpost

Palestinian citizens of Israel have launched daily protests against a new settler outpost in Majd al-Krum. The encampment was established by Israelis from the occupied West Bank on Friday. It sits on state land in the heart of this northern town with a Palestinian majority.

The outpost emerged after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a campaign plan. He aims to bring one million additional Jewish residents to the Negev and Galilee. This move seeks to extend the settlement revolution into areas where most Palestinian citizens live.

The local council warned the outpost creates a dangerous political reality. Activists discovered the tents on Friday and called for ongoing mobilization. Izz al-Din Badran, an activist with the popular committee, stated that landowners want to preserve their lands from seizure.

The site is leased by the Jewish National Fund solely for livestock herding. However, young settlers have occupied it with tents and furniture. Residents fear the outpost will expand onto privately owned Palestinian land or block access to existing agricultural areas.

Badran identified the settlers as hilltop youth known for violence in Gaza and the West Bank. He asserted they would not be allowed to take over land. Hundreds of residents gather daily from 5pm until nightfall to demand the removal of the encampment.

Sami Abu Shehada, a political leader, described settler herding as a tactic for land takeover. He argued the ultimate goal is erasing the Green Line between Israel and occupied territories. This strategy mirrors methods used extensively in Area C of the West Bank.

Shehada linked the development to Smotrich’s 2017 Decisive Plan. The blueprint aims to eradicate Palestinian national aspirations entirely. He warned that this is a state project supported by government institutions, not just isolated extremists acting without official protection or backing.