Majd al-Krum fears far-right win

Palestinian residents of Majd al-Krum in northern Israel describe a settler outpost built on village land in August as a trial run for the far right if it wins the election on Tuesday. Although the camp was dismantled within weeks, many community members believe the incident was merely the first step in a larger plan.

Settlers from the occupied West Bank began occupying the pine-covered hilltop of al-Rus in late August. They claimed they were grazing livestock under a permit from the Jewish National Fund, though villagers stated no animals were present. Hussein Mannaa, a member of the town's Popular Committee, said the camp expanded rapidly to between 25 and 30 people. The group established a kitchen, a toilet, a water line, and electricity. Villagers identified the site as one of the first such attempts on the Israeli side of the Green Line.

From September 13, hundreds of Palestinians arrived daily to protest the presence. They climbed the hill on foot, by horse, and in off-road vehicles after police closed the road. Anas Sgaier, a 21-year-old law student, recalled watching an 80-year-old woman walk for 50 minutes with her husband to demonstrate her presence. By September 16, following nearly a week of peaceful demonstrations, the Jewish National Fund ordered the removal of the tents.

Residents link the event to the campaign of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has pledged to "Judaise" the Galilee and replicate the changes he implemented in the West Bank. On August 27, Smotrich posted a plan to add one million Jews and 40 new communities to the Galilee and al-Naqab. Husein Khalaly, an economic consultant, called the al-Rus camp a "pilot" experiment. He stated, "Today, the language is clear."

Tensions escalated as Smotrich campaigned in the village with police and a water cannon. Local groups persuaded young residents to avoid confrontation. On September 18, police arrested a 32-year-old resident on allegations of contact with a Lebanese agent. Smotrich said Galilee residents were living in the "atmosphere of October 6." Mannaa argued that such provocations aim to force a clash, noting that "chaos benefits them."

The Jewish National Fund announced it would move the grazing initiative to a plot about 500 meters away, which villagers also claim. Mannaa rejected the relocation, saying the community opposes the move of "even one tent." The organization, the police, and the Finance Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

The incident may influence voter turnout. Polls indicate that neither major Zionist bloc can secure 61 seats without support from Arab parties. Participation by Palestinian citizens has ranged from 45 to 65 percent in recent years, but organizers expect it could reach 70 to 75 percent, a level last seen in 1999. Mannaa predicted turnout in Majd al-Krum would exceed 80 percent. Khalaly, who has voted only once in his life, now urges people to vote to remove "these prominent racists," though he sees little difference between the current government and its likely replacement.

Not all residents agree on the strategy. Sgaier plans to boycott the vote, arguing the village solved the problem through street protests rather than the Knesset. He sees little distinction between the two main political blocs but noted that the protests engaged people who were previously uninvolved. The settler tents have been removed, leaving only sparse remains and Hebrew graffiti. Villagers continue to climb the mountain daily, where families barbecue and children play music. Khaled Kewan, a 27-year-old singer who recorded the song "Ibn Bladi" during the protests, warned that Judaisation efforts are coming for the whole Galilee.