Majd al-Krum residents view settler camp as trial run for far-right agenda

Palestinian residents of Majd al-Krum view a brief settler encampment on village land as a strategic test of far-right ambitions in the Galilee. The temporary settlement on the al-Rus hilltop lasted less than a month before being dismantled, yet community leaders argue it establishes a precedent for future expansion.

Settlers from the occupied West Bank began constructing the camp in late August under a grazing permit issued by the Jewish National Fund. Local lawyer Hussein Mannaa noted that the site rapidly expanded to accommodate 25 to 30 people, complete with infrastructure such as a kitchen, toilet, water line, and electricity. He described the event as one of the first such attempts on the Israeli side of the Green Line, challenging the status quo of the region's demographics.

The community responded with sustained, peaceful protest from September 13 to September 16. Hundreds of Palestinians traveled daily to the site, climbing the hill on foot or by vehicle despite police road closures. Anas Sgaier, a 21-year-old youth organizer, recalled an elderly woman walking 50 minutes with her husband simply to demonstrate presence. The persistence of the crowd led the JNF to order the removal of the tents after nearly a week.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has linked the incident to his campaign promise to "Judaise" the Galilee. On August 27, he published a plan calling for one million additional Jewish residents and 40 new communities in the Galilee and al-Naqab. Economic consultant Husein Khalaly labeled the al-Rus camp a "pilot" experiment, asserting that the political language regarding the region's future has become explicit. Smotrich’s subsequent campaign visit, accompanied by police and a water cannon, further heightened local tensions.

The dispute has influenced voter intentions ahead of the Tuesday election. Polls indicate that neither major Zionist bloc can secure a majority of 61 seats without support from Arab parties. While historical turnout among Palestinian citizens has fluctuated between 45 and 65 percent, organizers anticipate participation could reach 70 to 75 percent, a high not seen since 1999. Mannaa predicts Majd al-Krum will exceed 80 percent turnout, while Khalaly urges voters to act to remove current leaders from power.

Not all residents agree on the political strategy. Sgaier plans to boycott the vote, arguing that the street protests achieved what the Knesset has not. He sees minimal difference between the competing Zionist factions. Despite the disagreement, the protests have engaged individuals who were previously apolitical, expanding the community's collective voice.

The JNF has stated it will relocate the grazing initiative to a different plot 500 meters away, but villagers reject any move to land they consider their own. The physical traces of the camp have faded, leaving only Hebrew graffiti and sparse remains. Families continue to gather on the hilltop for social activities, while local singer Khaled Kewan warns that similar efforts will extend across the entire Galilee.