Article 431174

Residents of the newly established Sha'ar HaOz outpost, south of Kedumim, have reported discovering several security and environmental concerns in the surrounding area.

During patrols, residents said they found a hideout containing a pickaxe and several knives that they attributed to hostile elements. In separate incidents, they reported that tankers operated by Arabs were intercepted while illegally dumping sewage near water wells, which they said could have contaminated soil and damaged water infrastructure.

Residents also reported that a Palestinian Authority road roller was seized after being found operating in Area C, allegedly preparing land to create a territorial connection between the villages of Funduq and Hajja.

All incidents were referred to the IDF, according to the local council, which stated it is working in close cooperation with the military.

Kedumim Regional Council head Uziel Vetik said: "Only a few days have passed since we expanded Kedumim southward with the establishment of the Sha'ar HaOz farm, and the Jewish presence on the ground is already proving its value in practice. We prevented incidents here that could have ended with loss of life and damage to our water infrastructure."