15.12.13
Update from the Negev-Naqab
The Prawer Plan is shelved! But what law will come in its
stead?
Ex-Minister Benny Begin who was charged by the
Government with amending the Prawer Plan (the Plan for Regulating Bedouin
Settlement in the Negev, 2011) (PBP) slated to become law during this Knesset
session. The Law passed its first reading in the Knesset and has been debated in
the Standing Committee for Internal Affairs and the Environment. The Government
Coalition assessed it did not have a majority to pass it into law.
Not only that, but contrary to the claims of Major
General (Res) Doron Almog who is the official responsible for implementing the
plan, if and when it becomes law, Begin stated publicly that not only does he
not have the acceptance of the Bedouin community but he has not consulted with
them or presented his plan to the community. One may wonder at this statement,
considering that the proposed law targets a very specific public and will have
far-reaching and often devastating effects not only on the lives of some 40,000
Bedouin, citizens of Israel, for the Bedouin community as a whole but also for
all residents of the Negev, Bedouin and Jewish alike.
On
Thursday, 12 December Begin called a special press conference and declared that
although he felt the Plan to be fair and far reaching, it did not stand the test
of reality and he had recommended to Prime Minister Netanyahu that it be
withdrawn. At the press conference he claimed, contrary to his previous
assertions, that in preparing the Plan as a law he had conducted hearings with
the Bedouin community and over 1,000 Bedouin had participated in those hearings.
Begin said that he himself had met with 600 individuals.
The
tabling of the law on the one hand it gives more time to organize against it by
lobbying and protesting. We at NCF are hopeful that the lesson will be learnt
and that the Government will open a real dialogue with the Negev Bedouin and
consider the alternative plans that show that recognition of all the Bedouin
villages is a realistic planning possibility. On the other hand, putting Prawer
aside may mean a very much harsher plan in the future that will find support
among the Right wing of the Government coalition which can easily round up a
majority. NCF will continue to monitor the situation very closely over the
coming months.
Sheikh Sayyach Al-Turi was Released with No Terms
On a happier
note, Sheikh Sayyach Al-Turi who was arrested in November 20th and
was released and banned from entering his village of Al Arakib indefinitely has
been permitted by the Regional Court at December 10th to return once
again to his home.
Two Weeks in Detention: 9 of the Hura Demonstration Detainees are still
under Arrest
Protesting in front of court today, demanding the
immediate release of all detainees
As noted in our previous update, 28
adults and minors were detained during and after the November 30th
demonstration. Several demonstrators were released, but others were detained. We
know about nine people who are today, two weeks after the demonstration, still
detained, and three of them minors. Such a long period of detention is
unprecedented. The Police is obviously trying to convey a message to all future
demonstrators, and the Beer-Sheva court unfortunately cooperates with this
undemocratic attitude.
1.12.13
Day of Rage against Prawer Plan
While the
discussion of the Prawer Plan bill continues at the Knesset Internal Affairs
Committee, which prepares the bill for the second and third round of voting, the
protest against Prawer Plan intensifies, in Israel and worldwide. November 30
was declared as a day of rage against the plan, and demonstrations took place
all around the world. In Israel, demonstrations were held in Hura, Jerusalem,
Haifa and Taibe.
Hura Demonstration Escalates, 28 Protesters
Arrested
The main demonstration, outside of the Bedouin
town of Hura in the Negev, started at 3:30 pm, and ended only around 11 pm at
night. It was a peaceful demonstration with approximately 1000 participants, who
chanted and held signs against the plan. Yet, after about an hour, when police
decided to reinforce the already huge forces in the scene, including water
cannons that were placed in front of the protesters, the demonstration heated
up. Protesters that were standing at the front of the demonstration said that it
was the Mista’arvim, policemen disguised as Arab protesters, who caused the
escalation and started throwing stones at the police. From that point, the
demonstration turned into a battle field. Police horsemen stormed into the crowd
while protesters were running away into the field, stun grenades and tear gas
were thrown into the crowd, and rubber coated metal bullets were shot by the
police. A police helicopter flew overhead and two water cannons, one with blue
dye, sprayed the crowd. Protesters responded by throwing stones at the police
and lighting tires on the road. During that time, 28 protesters were arrested
and were taken to the nearby police station. While a couple of the detainees
were released on bail during the night and five more were released on Sunday
morning, approximately 20 are still detained and will be brought to court today,
for an extension of their arrest.
Solidarity Visit to the Freedom Tent in Rahat
On
Wednesday, November 20, the village of Al-Arakib was demolished for the 57th
time. Wednesday afternoon, police came back to the village and arrested the
Sheikh of the village, Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi, under the accusation of trespassing
and violation of legal order. When the Sheikh was brought to court on Thursday
and again on Sunday, the judge ruled that he will be released on bail, and will
not be permitted to enter his own village. Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi refused to
accept these release terms and was sent back to detention. Even after a
reduction of the demanded bail, the Sheikh still refused to be released if he is
not allowed to enter his own village. Yesterday (Thursday), Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi
appealed to the district court and the judge decided to release him with no
written terms until the next hearing that was scheduled for the coming week.
On Saturday, November 30, just before the
demonstration outside Hura, a solidarity visit took place at the freedom tent
that was established in front of the Rahat Police Station, against the arrest of
Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi, the Sheikh of the village of Al-Arakib. Tens of activists
attended the visit, and were hosted in the tent by the residents of Al-Arakib.
The visitors met the Sheikh who was released on Thursday, November 28, after an
appeal to the District Court of Be’er-Sheva. The Tent will remain in place until
the next hearing at the Be’er-Sheva District Court that was scheduled for this
week.
Photos: Activestills.org
23.11.13
Update from the Negev-Naqab
Weekly discussions of Prawer-Begin Plan continue at the
Internal Affairs Committee of the Knesset
A discussion of the
“Prawer-Begin Bill”, for the regulation of Bedouin settlement in the Negev, is
held every Wednesday at the Internal Affairs Committee of the Knesset. The
committee, headed by MK Miri Regev of the Likud – Israel Beytenu party, has been
discussing the general outlines of the bill for the last three weeks. Next week
the committee will start discussing the specific articles and details of the
bill.
During the discussions vigils take place outside the Knesset.
On Sunday, November 24 th, the
committee is supposed to visit the Naqab, but according to the plan the
committee published it will visit Rahat, Laquie and the newly recognized
villages Al-Sayyed and Wadi Rowien (Molada). The Naqab Arabs steering committee
declared a general strike on the same day, since the committee will not meet any
of the Arab Bedouin leaders from the Naqab and some of the Knesset members from
the left will not participate in the visit.
The village of Al-Arakib was demolished, Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi is
arrested
The
village of Al-Arakib was demolished for the 57 th time on Wednesday,
20 th November. Bulldozers and policemen arrived at the village and
demolished all the tents outside the cemetery. During the afternoon, policemen
came back to the village and detained the Sheikh of the village, Sheikh Sayyah
A-Turi, and four other residents, including three minors. The police suggested
releasing the minors for house arrest, but this solution was rejected by their
families. Around 22:30 they were released. Yet, Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi was
arrested until Sunday, 24 th November, when the Judge will announce
his decision.
The families built a protest tent - “The freedom tent” - near
the police station in Rahat, which is open to visitors and supporters.
The Israeli Government approved the establishment of the Jewish
town of Hiran at the place of the Bedouin village of Umm Al-hiran – activists
were arrested while protesting outside
During a commemorative
government meeting at the Negev, held last week in Sdeh Boker, the government
approved the establishment of two new settlements in the Negev, Hiran and Kasif.
Hiran, which is planned to be built on the lands of the Bedouin unrecognized
village of Umm Al-hiran, was approved despite an appeal to the Supreme Court
which has not been discussed yet.
For Further reading in Haaretz: Cabinet OKs demolishing Bedouin village, replacing with Jewish
town
For a video about Umm Al-hiran and the group that intends
to establish Hiran click here
During the government meeting, tens
of residents, NCF activists and others protested against the approval of Hiran
and Kasif, 3 protesters were arrested, and one was detained.
Student from Ben Gurion University participated
in an activity day at the unrecognized village school of A-Zarnug and build
ecological sitting places in the school yard.
The
Belgium Support of Bedouin group that organized the biking campaign in April and
NCF purchased two computers for the school laboratory.
10.11.13
Update from the Negev-Naqab
Prawer Plan Update
Protesting in front of the Knesset, Wednesday
November 6th
On Wednesday November 6th the Interior Committee
of the Knesset started the discussions on the Prawer bill in
preparation for second and third reading. Former minister Beni Begin
opened the discussion and tried to explain the bill and its
“virtues”. The discussion will continue from now on
a weekly basis and the committee will hold a tour in the Naqab on
November 24th. During the discussion a vigil
with many women was held outside the Knesset.
New Police Unit in the Negev
An article
about “Yoav” unit, a new special police unit for
the eviction of Bedouin from their villages and for backing up the
demolitions, was recently published on Y-net. The article promotes the
unit, which has already recruited more than 100 officers and is going
to recruit another 250 officers! The Israeli government will spend a
sixth (215 NIS million) of the development plan’s budget (1.2
billion NIS) of the Prawer-Begin plan, designed to develop the existing
Bedouin villages, on expanding and maintaining police
forces!
Israeli Government Approves New Jewish
Settlements in the Negev
The Israeli government in its session on Sunday in Sdeh-Boker will
discuss the proposal to start moving Jewish people to the new planned
village of “Hiran”. In the Hiran area Bedouin of
the unrecognized village of Umm al-Hiran have lived for more than 50
years, and they are now subject to continued demolitions and evacuation
orders.
Recognized
Documentaries from the Negev-Naqab were screened in Tel-Aviv
cinematheque on November 6th and 7th. Eight documentaries were screened
and two discussions were held about the Prawer plan and the
documentation of the Bedouin community. An exhibition of photographs
taken by children from the unrecognized village of A-Sir is on display
at the cinematheque lobby until November 15th.
31.10.13
The Prawer-Begin Bill goes to the
Internal Affairs Committee of the Knesset in preparation for its second
and third reading
Next Wednesday, November 6th the Internal
Affairs Committee of the Knesset, headed by MK Miri Regev (Likud-Israel
Beiteinu) will review the Prawer Begin Bill, officially known as the
Law for Regulating Bedouin Settlement in the Negev. The name conceals a
massive programme of dispossession and displacement, as we have
frequently reported.
Dr. Benny Begin, one of the later architects of the plan will open the
proceedings with an exposition of the Bill and the current situation in
the Negev. Mr. Atiya Al-Assam, chair of the Region Council of
Unreconized Villages has requested to present the alternative plan of
the Bedouin community during the hearings.
The Committee is to meet weekly in order to speed up final legislation
by the end of this year or by early 2014. The Likud party (3 members)
supports the Bill, the position of Yesh Atid (2) Avoda, (1) Hatnuah (1)
Ra'am Ta'al (1) Shas (1) Hadash (1) Meretz (1) Yehadut HaTorah (1)
remains to be seen. NGO's, including the NCF, are lobbying against the
Bill among these parties.
These are bad times for Israel in which the parliamentary process is
being used to further a law that, if passed, represents the tyranny of
the majority. Most of the Bedouin community opposes the law which is
discriminatory and even anti-democratic since it proposes forced
relocation of Israeli citizens from their homes in order to eventually
replace them with other Israeli (Jewish) citizens. If passed, the law
will intensify the discrimination between Jews and Arabs. It will
disrupt the delicate fabric of Jewish-Arab relations in the Negev, and
indeed, throughout Israel.
Simultaneously to the Bill, the Government has announced a new
initiative of five new villages along the Be’er-Sheva Dimona
road (Route 25) on the site of several Bedouin villages. This in
addition to 10 new (Jewish) villages announced in November 2011, some
of which are also sited on Bedouin lands.
Repeated demolition of Al-Arakib
On Thursday October 24th Al Arakib was demolished for the 56th time in
the last 39 months.
Recognized: Documentaries from the
Negev-Naqab at Tel-Aviv Cinematheque
On Wednesday, November 6th and Thursday,
November 7th NCF will hold two days of
documentary films and discussions about the Naqab at the Tel Aviv
Cinematheque. “Recognized” the exhibition of
photographs taken by children from the village of A-Sir who
participated in a NCF project that took place in the village in January
2013. The exhibition will be presented at the Cinematheque between
October 31 and November 15th.
“Recognized” can also be seen at the
Sourasky Central Library of Tel-Aviv University and is open daily to
the public until November 14th.
14.10.13
Updates from the Negev-Naqab
The Israel police continue their efforts to crush the struggle of
Al-Arakib
The moment of release of Sheikh Sayyah
A-Turi, with his attorney, Shahda Ibn Bari
Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi was again detained on Wednesday (9.10.2013),
following yet another demolition of the village the previous day
(8.10.2013). This was the 55th demolition since
July 2010. Although the police attempted to place the Sheikh under a
30-day restraining order preventing his return to the village, he was
finally released unconditionally and went straight back to Al-Arakib to
continue the resistance.
Prawer-Begin Bill
The Israeli Knesset reconvened today for its winter parliamentary
session. In the upcoming weeks, the Prawer-Begin bill will be brought
for discussion in the Knesset Interior Committee. Already accepted on
the first round of voting, the bill will be brought to the committee,
led by MK Miri Regev of the Likud party, for the continuance of the
legislation process.
Human Rights Activists Workshop
On October 1st 1013 the Negev Coexistence Forum
(NCF) in cooperation with Adalah, the Legal Center for the Arab
Minority in Israel, held a human rights workshop for 15 young Arab
Bedouin activists in the unrecognized village of Khashem Zanneh. The 15
participants – 11 men and 4 women –are actively
engaged in the struggle for recognition of their villages and against
home demolitions. The training was led by Adalah Board member Attorney
Hussein Abu Hussein and aimed to strengthen the participants' ability
to document and advocate against human rights violations, particularly
in villages that face potential displacement under the Prawer-Begin
Plan for the Regulation of Bedouin Settlement in the Negev.
Ratb Abu Krinat, NCF field coordinator reported: ”The
workshop was immensely important since people are now better informed
about their rights. They realize that one can lawfully protect
himself/herself during demolitions and demonstrations. Raising the
awareness of human rights is very important especially after 15 young
people were arrested in a demonstration in the Naqab last
July”.
The Photo-Exhibition 'Recognized' Arrives at
Tel-Aviv University
“Recognized” is a collection of photos taken by the
children of the village of A-sir an unrecognized Bedouin village near
Be’er-Sheva prison which is under threat of demolition. All
of the photos are the result of NCF’s photography workshop
held in cooperation with the village committee during January 2013 and
led by volunteer photographers.
The opening will be held on Wednesday,
October 16th at 18:00, in the lobby of the
Sourasky Central Library, Tel-Aviv University and will continue until
November.
18.9.13
Demolitions at the beginning of the
year
The beginning of the Jewish year brought more demolitions and the
handing out of demolition orders for Bedouin homes in the Negev-Naqab,
as well as arrests.
The first week of the new Jewish year was marked by hardship and new
enforcements. Demolition orders were handed out in several unrecognized
villages, including A-Zarnuk, Al-Shabi, Wadi Al-Na'am and in the
recognized village of Bir-Hadaj. Two houses were demolished in the city
of Rahat and in the Bedouin unrecognized village of Wadi
Al-Na’am
a “Shig” (hospitality room) was demolished.
The saga of Al-Arakib
As advised in our previous update, on August 30th Judge Tishler, in a
hearing at the Be'er-Sheva Magistrate Court, rejected the state's
request to restrict four residents of Al-Arakib, arrested on August
26th, from approaching their village on the grounds of trespassing. The
villagers returned to the village and the state appealed instantly. In
the hearing at the district court on September 9th, Judge Hanni Slotki
argued that although the lands in question were state lands, the
freedom of movement was an important right. It is worth
pointing
that the legal process regarding land ownership in Al-Arakib is still
pending, and no ruling has been reached yet. The judge advised that the
parties accept her suggestion: the state will demolish the tents, no
more houses will be built and the villagers will be allowed to enter
the village. The hearing was set for September 12th. If the parties do
not reach an agreement by then, the judge will take a decision on the
matter. The judge
also stated that the right of property was indeed a strong one, but the
right of movement was a worthy one as well. This contrasted with what
the judge said at the previous hearing when she commented more than
once that she might also rule for restriction from entering the village.
Court Hearing, September 12th
On September 12th judge Slotki claimed it was decided more than once
that Al-Arakib lands were state lands and decided that the Al-Arakib
people would be able to enter the village area but prohibited building
of any kind, including temporary constructions (tents or shacks). If
they do, they will be obliged to pay the bail money they already placed
at the court or else be arrested.
Al-Arakib weekly protest, September 15th
As a solidarity action with the people of Al-Arakib, tens of protestors
joined the weekly demonstration of the village on Sunday, September
15^th, in Lehavim junction.
30.8.13
In the past 11 days the village of
Al-Arakib was demolished 3 times and in the last demolition 4 residents
of the village were detained, including Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi
On Thursday August 15th, Wednesday August 21st and on Monday August
26th, Al Arakib was demolished again and again – three times
in 11 days. During the last demolition 4 of leaders of the Al
Arakib struggle were detained: Sheikh Sayyah A-Turi’ Aziz
A-Turi, Salim A-Turi and Sef A-Turi.
The police detained and charged them with violation of order and
trespassing while being in their own village. This happened due to the
fact that the Al Arakib land ownership is being discussed in court. In
December 2012 the Supreme Court prevented the state to register the
lands of the A-Turi and Abu Freich families as state lands and reverted
the hearing to the district court. The state appealed against this
ruling and asked for a hearing in the Supreme Court with an expanded
assembly.
It is worth noting that previous attempts to indict the residents and
activist with similar charges failed and the files were closed.
Photo: The arrested residents during the
court discussion in Tuesday, Photography: Oren Ziv, Activestills
There was no hearing on the appeal filed on August 27th
to the District Court for the release of the detainees because the
police did not appear at the hearing. The judge was furious and
demanded that the police will explain their reason for not appearing
and threatened the police they will have to pay for the expenses of the
trial. In a hearing last night in the Magistrate Court, the judge ruled
to release the detainees with restrictions and ordered that they stay
away from the village and from their families. The judge set a bail of
25,000 NIS for each detainee and said that a decision on their case
will be given Friday, August 30th. The
detainees who objected being banned from the village were released late
at night and went to protest all night close to the Rahat police
station. The detainees are presently residing in a protest tent near
the Rahat police station and demanding the annulment of their release
conditions.
It seems that the state has decided, in a non-democratic act, to use
the police and the courts to prevent the al Arakib people from
non-violently claiming their rights and potentially will expel them
from their village.
For more than 3 years the people of al Arakib have stood firm and
conducted themselves in a dignified, public and legitimate way along
with a judicial struggle. Their case is in court but the state is in a
rush to conclude the Al Arakib story and expel the people from their
village even before the court has given its verdict.
8.8.13
Major Demonstration Last Thursday: Demonstrators
Arrested Once Again
On Thursday, August 1st, two thousands Arab and Jewish
demonstrators protested in opposition to the Prawer-Begin Bill. The
protest took place at the Rahat Junction. The participants came from
different Arab and Jewish localities in Israel in order to strengthen
the protest against the governmental plan to demolish many of the
Bedouin villages and relocate thousands to towns. Towards the end of
the protest, police arrested two young demonstrators.
Hearings were scheduled to take place on Friday, August 2nd. However,
these hearings were canceled, and the detainees were released without
an indictment.
Thursday's Protest
Signs for Thursday's Protest
NCF Receives Special Consultative Status to the UN
On
August 1st, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) announced that
it had decided to adopt the recommendation of the Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to grant Special consultative
status to the Negev Coexistence Forum. This status enables
NCF to actively engage with ECOSOC and its subsidiary bodies, as well
as with the United Nations Secretariat, programmes, funds and
agencies by, for example, allowing NCF access to attend UN meetings,
submitting written and oral statements to ECOSOC, and use UN
facilities.
Meeting Between Israeli NGOs with UN Consultative Status
and Mr. Andrei Abramov, the Chief of the NGO Section of ECOSOC
28.7.13
Many Detained Following Demonstrations,
Opposing the Prawer Plan
On Monday, July 15th, a general strike was held and demonstrations took
place around the country in opposition to the Prawer Plan, which
authorizes the demolition of many villages and the displacement of
thousands of Bedouin citizens of the Negev. Dozens of
protesters were detained. In Be’er-Sheva, 15
protesters were detained, and one minor was accosted but then
released. The police used violence when conducting many of
these detentions all over the country. The cases of these detainees
were heard on July 15th 16th, 17th and 18th. On Monday, July
15th, a hearing was concluded at midnight, and all those who
were arrested were detained overnight. On Tuesday, July 16th,
the lawyers re-appealed the decision to detain the protesters for such
a long period; four people were then released. Because the hearings ran
late into the night, some were postponed to Wednesday. On
Wednesday, another four detainees were released from custody.
The rest of the detainees were released on Thursday. The police said
they would submit an indictment on Thursday, July 18th, but they were
not prepared to do so. On Monday, July 22nd, five individuals
were indicted on the charges of unlawful assembly, assaulting police
officers and resisting arrest.
All the detainees were sentenced to one week
of home arrest, a bail of 6000 NIS or more, and the authorization to
participate in demonstrations only when those who paid their bail are
present!
Click here to watch a video from
the demonstration.
Click here to view photos from the
demonstration.
13.7.13
NCF Representative Turns the Attention of the UN
and the Int'l Community towards the Prawer-Begin Bill
July 8 th – 12 th,
2013 (Geneva, Switzerland):
Negev Coexistence Forum (NCF)
representative Khalil Alamour attended the Sixth Session of the UN
Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN
EMRIP). UN EMRIP is a component of the expert mechanism of
the Human Rights Council (HRC). It contains five members and
was established in 2007 to deliver expertise on the rights of
indigenous peoples. The Mechanism meets annually for up to five days to
study and reflect on the status and rights of indigenous
peoples.
Prior to the UN event, Mr. Alamour met with community groups and
journalists in Zurich and Geneva to raise awareness about the
Prawer-Begin Bill and the general abuses to the rights of the Bedouin
population in Israel’s Negev/Naqab. Alamour
continued this awareness raising campaign at the United Nations Palais
des Nations in Geneva for the Sixth Session of EMRIP.
On July 8 th, he led a lunch-time event at which
he discussed the Prawer-Begin Bill and the status of Negev/Naqab
Bedouin for an hour and a half before an attentive audience of
indigenous rights experts from around the world, including a
representative for the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous
Peoples. This representative was very touched by the
presentation, especially by the short film about demolitions in Al
Arakib.
Also, on July 8 th, Mr. Alamour spoke at the
Plenary Session. At this event, he spoke to over 300
people.
On July 9 th, Mr. Alamour met with the Special
Rapporteur privately. Alamour focused this meeting on the
potentially devastating consequences of the Prawer-Begin
Bill. He stated:
The Prawer-Begin bill violates
numerous articles of the UN
Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, including
most notably Article 10, which states
that ‘no relocation shall
take place without the free, prior and
informed consent of the
indigenous peoples
concerned;’… yet, there was no viable
consultation with the Bedouin
community [during the
development of the Prawer-Begin Bill].
Professor Anaya responded, stating that he is very aware of what is
going on in the Negev/Naqab, and his office is following the
developments there. Anaya also said that he would develop
recommendations and announcements regarding the rights of Bedouin in
the Negev/Naqab and was very happy to hear that the Bedouin population
looks forward to more recommendations, announcements and active steps
by the UN and the international community.
On July 10 th, La Maison des Associations, a
venue that facilitates exchange and dialogue between socio-political
associations, hosted Mr. Alamour to lecture as well.
Reflecting on the importance of this trip, Mr. Khalil Alamour stated
the following:
Given the current political climate in
Israel, the voice of
the Negev Bedouin
community is hardly heard in the
public debate and
the political decision-making process
regarding the
future. At this time, with devastating
abuses
to our rights taking
place, it is particularly important that
the Bedouin are in direct
contact with international
institutions, which are working for
the protection of human
rights and the rights of indigenous
peoples, in particular.
This trip has facilitated a direct
link between the Negev
Bedouin community and those
institutions and
organizations that have
influence and power. I hope that
this move will
further mobilize international institutions,
human rights
organizations and foreign governments
to protect the rights of the Bedouin
Arabs and to cancel the
Prawer Plan.
We, at the Negev Coexistence Forum, also hope that Mr. Khalil
Alamour’s trip to Geneva will stimulate international
dialogue and advocacy regarding the Prawer-Begin Bill.
26.6.13
The Knesset Approves the Highly Devastating
Prawer-Begin Bill in the First Voting Round
Monday, June 24th, 2013 (Jerusalem): The Knesset voted in favor to the
Prawer-Begin bill. Forty-three Members of Knesset voted in favor and 40
voted in opposition to the passage of the bill. The
Prawer-Begin bill will displace at least 30,000 (and up to 70,000)
Bedouin citizens.
Furthermore, it will dispossess the Arab Bedouin population of its land
and traditional means of production as well diminish its social
structure. The bill will cause Bedouins to be
concentrated into impoverished, urban areas where their potential for
self-development will be stymied.
The approval of the Prawer-Begin bill is contrary to the 2011
recommendations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights, which called on Israel to refrain from forcibly evicting
residents and to stop the demolitions in the unrecognized
villages. It also contradicts the recommendations of the
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which, in
2007, called for the State to examine the possibility of recognizing
Bedouin villages, allow Bedouin to control and tend their fields, and
desist with evacuations that are conducted without the consent of the
residents in the villages. Additionally, the concluding
observations of the CERD (issued in March 2012) and
of the European Parliament (in a resolution passed in
July 2012) called on the Israeli government to revert the Prawer Plan.
This plan has undergone many reviews. The first draft of the
plan was presented by Ehud Prawer, the former Deputy Head of the
National Security Council. It was intended to end the
prolonged land dispute between the Negev Bedouin and the
State. This draft was approved on September 11th,
2011. National Security Advisor Yaakov Amidror then reviewed
and approved the plan. Following this, Minister Benny Begin
managed a "listening process" and put forth amendments to the plan,
which were approved by the Israeli cabinet on January 27th,
2013. These amendments were publicized as a reflection of
Bedouin representatives’ concerns. But, these
amendments, in fact, served as baseless rhetoric and merely furthered
the previous provisions outlined by Prawer and Amidror.
In May 2013, the Ministerial Committee on Legislation reviewed a bill,
which was based off of the Prawer Plan, and incorporated measures that
could make this already problematic Plan even more devastating for the
Bedouin population. These were the following:
• The Plan will incorporate a
map, specifying which settlements
will be added to the
existing villages and the locations of
areas of land
compensation.
• The timeline for
implementation will be reduced from five to
three years.
• A Ministerial Committee will
be appointed with the
responsibility of
monitoring the program and will receive
periodic reports on
its implementation.
• An additional 250 police
will be appended to the existing
forces that are
already tasked with implementing the plan.
The Committee then approved the bill on Monday, May 6th, 2013.
Since the initial presentation of the bill, the Israeli government has
demolished hundreds of Bedouin homes. On May 16th, a large
police force, composed of hundreds of officers and supervisors
accompanied by demolitionists working for the Israel Land
Administration, destroyed eight houses and seven other structures in
the unrecognized village of Atir. They also uprooted 470
olive trees belonging to the villagers.
The Negev Coexistence Forum (NCF) is appalled by the result of this
Knesset vote. NCF representatives believe that the
Prawer-Begin plan will constitute a terrible threat and an ongoing,
oppressive campaign by the State to forcibly concentrate its Bedouin
citizens within a limited space. Moreover, the implementation
of the bill will be devastating for the future of civil society in the
Negev and the possibility of Jews and Arabs to live their lives
together in this space.
We urge all national and international activists, policy makers,
journalists, and diplomats to vocalize dismay for the
Knesset’s approval of the Prawer-Begin bill and fight for
this bill to be revoked.
To stay updated in the aftermath of this vote, please visit the NCF website regularly.
23.6.13
Attention: Knesset Vote on Prawer-Begin
Bill Upcoming!
On May 27th, the Knesset was scheduled to vote for the first time on
the Prawer-Begin bill. However, the vote has been delayed
numerous times, and there is still not a definitive date for when it
will take place. We believe that these continuous
postponements are caused by right-wing factions in the government that
are altering the bill. Following these alterations, the bill
will be even more problematic and more discriminatory (according to our
predictions); the compensation offered to Bedouin for their land will
probably be decreased, and people who refuse to accept the
compensation will likely lose their lands within three years!
After the Knesset does eventually vote for the first time, the bill
will then undergo two revision sessions within Knesset committees and
two more rounds of voting. This process could take days,
weeks, or even months to be finalized. The provisions of this
bill were initially drafted by Ehud Prawer and were approved by the
government in 2011. Since then, it has become a bill and has
been altered slightly by Minister Benny Begin and politicians in the
Ministerial Committee on Legislation. If passed by
the Knesset, this bill will displace between 30,000 and 70,000 Bedouin
from their lands.
On Thursday, June 13 th, a series of
demonstrations (see image below) took place in opposition to the bill,
which has been falsely marketed as an initiative to "regulate
the Bedouin settlements in the Negev." These demonstrations
coincide with a campaign by the Negev Coexistence Forum to directly
engage with Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is the most responsible of
all officials for the development of this problematic plan.
Two weeks ago, we sent the Prime Minister a letter in which
we urged him to withdraw the bill. Doron Almog,
Head of the Implementation of the Plan, responded to our letter,
stating that the plan will “bring a new era of development to
the Negev area for all its residents," “will assist Bedouin
to escape from their hard condition," and “will give them
[Bedouin] hope for better lives."
However, this bill contradicts the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples
Rights, the recommendations of Special Rapporteur on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (2011), the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (2012), and an EU Resolution in July 2012--the last
three of which specifically called on the State of Israel to desist
with its pursuance of the Prawer Plan (the basis for this
bill).
In past couple of weeks, we have witnessed preemptive demolitions and
violent evacuations on a massive scale. These incidents
include the following:
- June 19 - Al Arakib was destroyed for the 49th
time.
- June 19 – A house the Lakia area and
a house in the recognized village of Umm Batin were destroyed.
- June 12 – a house, shop, and another
structure were demolished in the recognized Bedouin village
of Kaser A-Ser.
- June 1 -- Bedouin living in tents after their
homes had been demolished twice in Atir received notices to evacuate
their tents within 48 hours.
- May 30 – One house was demolished in
Al Bat.
- May 30 – One house
was demolished in Al Rarah.
- May 30 – Two houses were demolished
in Bir al Meshash. The police fired rubber bullets, injuring a woman in
her leg and a young boy in his shoulder. Two teenagers were
arrested while barefoot.
- May 30 – Houses and tents were
demolished in Atir. The residents’ belongings were
confiscated.
We urge the international community to do all that it can to advocate
in opposition to the Prawer-Begin plan. One way of doing so
is by clicking here to send a letter to
Knesset members.
30.5.13
Upcoming Vote on
Prawer-Begin Bill by the Knesset
Since the Prawer-Begin bill was approved by the Ministerial Committee
on Legislation (May 6th), we have witnessed the rapid implementation of
the bill, despite the fact that the Knesset has yet to vote on it.
Since then, the Israeli Police and Israel Land Administration
have carried out eighteen demolitions in the village of Atir, uprooted
470 olive trees, and demolished three houses in the recognized village
of Al Sayyid. The Knesset will likely vote on this bill in
the upcoming week. This week, NCF sent a letter to Prime
Minister Netanyahu, asking him to withdraw the bill. This bill would
facilitate the State’s relocation of many communities and the
demolition of Bedouin villages. We ask all of our supporters
to assist us in our campaign to oppose the passage of this draconian
bill.
Legal Vigil Disrupted by Police
On Monday, May 27th, NCF and Bedouin activists held a vigil in Beer
Sheva to draw attention to the upcoming Knesset vote on the
Prawer-Begin bill. A vigil of this sort did not require a permit from
the police. Nonetheless, the police intervened in the event,
asserted that it was an illegal assembly, and detained NCF
employees--Haia Noach and Amir Abu Quider. We see this police
intervention as part of an ongoing campaign to intimidate activists,
especially in the lead up to the Knesset vote.
Solidarity Visits in Atir
For the past two weekends, NCF has held solidarity visits in the
village of Atir, where 8 houses were demolished on May 16th.
19.5.13
Ministerial
Committee on Legislation Approves the Prawer-Begin Plan
The approval of the Prawer-Begin Plan on Monday, May 6th, 2013 by the
Ministerial Committee on Legislation marks a drastic step towards
institutionalizing the State’s discriminatory and racist
policies regarding the Negev-Naqab. If implemented, this will result in
the Negev becoming an area “as clean as possible of
Bedouin,” depriving the Arab Bedouin of their lands and their
traditional agriculture. The proposed Plan will result in the
disintegration of their communal life and their forced concentration to
under-resourced, urban townships. This will profoundly affect their
capacity for self-development and is contrary to the traditional,
agricultural character of a significant portion of Bedouin society. The
law signifies the continued Judaisation of the area, isolating the
Arab-Bedouin and effectively depriving them of their civil rights. It
will prevent the development of the Negev for all its residents,
including its Jewish residents.
The Committee’s decision, in fact, gives the go ahead for the
forced evacuation of thousands of citizens and the destruction of many
villages. This stands in contradiction to the recommendation of the UN
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2011), which called
upon Israel to desist with the forced evacuation of Bedouin inhabitants
and to cease the demolitions of their homes in the unrecognized
villages. It is also contrary to the recommendation of the UN Committee
on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2012), which called on the
State of Israel to shelve the Prawer Plan for the Regulation of Bedouin
Settlement in the Negev (2011), which is the basis of the law just
passed by the Ministerial Committee.
Furthermore, the Ministerial Committee made a number of conditions that
could make this already problematic Plan even more devastating for the
Bedouin population. These are the following:
• The Plan will incorporate a
map, specifying which settlements
will be added to the existing
villages and the locations of areas
of land compensation.
• The timeline for
implementation will be reduced from five to
three years.
• A Ministerial Committee will
be appointed with the res-
ponsibility of monitoring
the program and will receive periodic
reports on its implementation.
• An additional 250 police
will be appended to the
existing forces that
are already tasked with
implementing the plan.
These terms were dictated by extreme Right-wing members of the
Committee and the Government. They demonstrate the political interests
underlying the legislative process and expose the intent to supervise,
centralize and direct the Prawer-Begin Plan. By decreasing the timeline
for expelling tens of thousands of citizens from their lands, limiting
the Bedouins’ property rights and displaying a map designed
to ensure that “the Bedouin will not be given too much
land” while also increasing the police force responsible for
the expulsion, the Committee has created a program that will maximize
Jewish ownership of Negev lands without any consideration of the
Bedouin community’s needs, civil rights and connection to the
land.
The State has Begun to Implement the Prawer-Begin Plan Before Knesset's
Approval
Thursday, May 16th, 2013 (Beer Sheva): A large police force and the
Israel Land Administration (ILA) barricaded the unrecognized village of
Atir in the northern Negev, carried out demolitions in the village, and
uprooted many trees.
7:30 am: A large police force composed of hundreds of police officers
and supervisors accompanied by demolitionists working for the Israel
Land Administration arrived in the unrecognized village of Atir, near
the village of Hura community. First, the authority closed off
community access roads and put up barriers. Then, escorted by
a heavy police force, they brought in demolition tools. The
authority went on to destroy eight houses and seven other
structures. They then uprooted 470 olive trees belonging to
the villagers.
Atir has existed in its current location since the beginning of the
1950s. According to the Prawer-Begin Plan, recently approved by the
Ministerial Committee on Legislation, but not yet approved by the
Knesset, the land on which Atir Village is located will be evacuated
and forested by the Jewish National Fund. Though this Plan is
not yet finally approved, and although it authorizes that people who
are evacuated be contacted prior to the demolitions and offered
compensation agreements, the action that took place today indicates
that the police and ILA have already begun to act independently of the
legislative process.
MK Merav Michaeli was present during the demolition along with
representatives of NCF. MK Michaeli met with the
villagers following the demolitions and said the following:
This event has
left women and children without a home
and
without hope for the future. Instead of sitting with
the Bedouin community to find a good
solution for all,
the government continues to act in violence
and endanger
all residents of
the Negev.
Upcoming Vote on Prawer-Begin in Knesset
On Monday, May 27th, the Knesset will vote on
the Prawer-Begin Plan. This is will be the most critical vote
on this bill yet. We ask all of our supporters—both
in Israel and abroad—to employ every advocacy tactic at their
disposal to urge the Knesset to reject this bill.
9.5.13
The Prawer
Plan Was Approved by the Legislative Ministry Committee on
Monday, May
6th:
The
Negev Coexistence Forum Opposes this Ruling
On Monday, May 6th 2013, the Legislative Ministry Committee approved
the Prawer Plan. This is a serious step towards
institutionalizing the discriminatory and racist policies of the State
in the Negev. This law will result in transformation of the
Negev into a region composed of impoverished Bedouin enclaves, wherein
the Bedouin population will be forced to take on an urban and dense
livelihood and abandon their traditional ways of life. In other words,
we will see the Arab Bedouin population dispossessed of its land and
traditional means of production as well its social structure
diminished. Furthermore, Bedouin will be
concentrated into impoverished, urban areas where their potential for
self-development will be stymied.
The implementation of this decision will cause tens of thousands of
civilians to be evicted. A scenario of this sort is contrary
to the recommendations of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (2011), which has called on Israel to refrain from
forcibly evicting residents and to stop the demolitions in the
unrecognized villages. It also contradicts the
recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (2012), which had called on the State to withdraw the
discriminatory law (proposed in 2012) for regulating Bedouin settlement
in the Negev that legalizes the on-going policy of home demolition and
forced displacement of the indigenous Bedouin community.
We believe that this law formalizes a process that is destructive to
the future of the Negev. It is to our dismay that the State has
designated extensive resource towards police enforcement of a violent
and oppressive strategy, since these resources could be directed to
recognizing existing villages. Such resources could be used
to develop infrastructure, improve the welfare of the population and
pursue the long-term interests of all residents of the
Negev—Jews and Arabs. We have done and continue to
do everything we can to oppose the existing legislative
process—a process that does not incorporate the Bedouin
community when it comes to determining the future of this population in
the Negev. The process is unilateral instead.
A demonstration that was held Monday morning in front of the Prime
Minister was the first step in a series of protests and resistance
tactics. This was followed by a community conference on
Wednesday aimed at organizing community members and NGOs to work
together in order to stop this problematic bill.
We call on the public to join this fight for civil equality in the
Negev.
10.4.13
Cycling Tour for
Recognition and Equality
A cycling tour, hosted by NCF and the Regional Council of Unrecognized
Villages (RCUV) in cooperation with a group of international activists
(from three Belgian NGOs), took place from April 2nd to April
6th. Festivities kicked off Monday night with a
meet-and-greet meal at NCF’s Multaka-Mifgash Cultural Center;
about fifty individuals attended this event.
During the tour, the 35 participants rode everyday between 13 of the
villages in the Negev-Naqab. These villages included Umm al-Hiran,
which the government plans to replace with a Jewish settlement called
Hiran; Hashem Zane, which was recently zoned for the expansion of Route
6 where homes now stand; and Al Arakib, which has been destroyed 45
times. Participants from abroad were hosted in the villages
and took part in cultural events conducted by the villages’
Bedouin residents. During the tour, the international
activists joined the Bedouin community in protesting the
government’s devastating and discriminatory policies.
NCF
spokesman Ofer Dagan stated the following about the tour:
The cycling tour is a
project aimed to broaden the scale of
solidarity actions between
Jewish and Arab citizens in Israel
and amplify our mutual call
for a change in policy that will
allow for coexistence in
the Negev and throughout the State.
We hope that the tour will
also achieve closer intercultural
relations on the
ground by working together towards equality
and mutual respect and by
resisting the current policy, which
is devastating for all
citizens of the Negev.
NCF's Racism Report Published and Receiving
Significant Press Coverage
On Thursday, March 21st 2013, NCF published a report, which presents an
updated picture of the gap between the state services that are
allocated to Jewish verses Bedouin Arab villages in the Negev-Naqab.
This report was developed in honor of the International Day
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The report demonstrates that the population density of the Bedouin
towns ranges from a ratio of about one thousand people per square
kilometer to up to 2,700 people per square kilometer.
Meanwhile, in Jewish towns, the ratio does not exceed 400 inhabitants
per square kilometer. The report further reveals that the
unemployment rate in the Bedouin townships is substantially higher than
the average in southern Israel. This is, at least in part,
due to the fact that there are no employment bureaus in most Bedouin
towns.
Furthermore, the report demonstrates that with regards to public
services—banking, postal, transport and communications, there
is a big deficit in service accessibility in Arab towns compared to
that in Jewish towns. For example, the Jewish town of Omer has a full
mail service, bank, and phone service infrastructure for it 7,000
inhabitants. Conversely, the nearby Bedouin town of Tel Sheva
has only partial postal and telephone services and no bank branches for
its 16,000 inhabitants.
This report received media coverage from both Hebrew and English
editions of Haaretz newspaper as well as a local television news
station and extensive coverage in Arabic newspapers. The
article from the English edition of Haaretz can be found
here: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/bedouin-sector-weakest-in-israel-due-to-systemic-neglect.premium-1.511589.
NCF Hosted Conference Regarding the Forced
Relocation of Bedouin in the Negev-Naqab via the Begin Plan
The Recognition Forum and NCF jointly hosted a conference on Monday,
March 18th, 2013 at 19:00 at the Tzavta Cultural Center in Tel
Aviv. At the conference, Bedouin leaders and Jewish activists
served as the panelists and discussed a bill, which included Minister
Begin recommendations for the Prawer-Amidror Plan, for forcibly
relocating and resettling Bedouins. This bill has been
altered two times, approved by the government, and is now awaiting
review by the new Legislative Minister’s Committee.
If approved by the Legislative Minister’s Committee, the bill
will be submitted to the Knesset for the first call.
This bill, if implemented, will significantly endanger tens of
thousands of Bedouins who will be uprooted from their villages, homes,
and ways of life. They will also lose the possibility of returning to
their lands in the future as a result of the plan. To coerce the
Bedouin population to leave their lands, the State has begun a
wide-scale series of house demolitions and destruction of crops.
The conference was attended by over a hundred individuals, including
Arab, Jewish and international audience members.
18.3.13
Umm
Al-Hiran/Hiran: New Video Exposes Dispossession Underway
The video contains interviews with Salim Abu-Alqian, a resident of the
village of Umm Al-Hiran—a Bedouin village under serious
threat of demolition, and with a member of a group of
“settlers” (within the Green Line). This
group will soon settle in Hiran, a Jewish settlement that is planned to
be built on the ruins of the current village of Umm Al-Hiran.
Human Rights Workshops in Unrecognized Villages
This project was made possible with
the support of the European Union.
Also
as part of the joint NCF/Adalah project, we have begun to organize
Human Rights workshops in unrecognized Bedouin villages that face the
threat of demolition. The first workshop was held in the village of
Wadi Al-Na’am on Saturday, February 16th. The workshop
included three discussion sessions. The first, led by
Attorney Aram Mahameed of Adalah, dealt with demolition orders and the
Right to Protest. The second was led by Michal Rotem, NCF’s
Content Coordinator. It
focused on effective and strategic use of media and technology in
publicizing villagers’ campaigns. The participants learned
how to document events in their villages and to share photos and
information via print media and social media. The third session, led by
NCF’s Field Coordinator Ratb Abu-Krinat, concentrated on
preparing the villagers for upcoming Human Rights campaigns.
The participants distributed roles amongst themselves and discussed
ways of making Human Rights campaigns sustainable by mobilizing the
community.
Local Committee Head Mr. Libad Abu Afash said, "The local
committee acknowledges the importance of awareness raising activities
in the village and, in particular, for addressing the multitude of
legal issues and challenges facing the Bedouin community, especially in
light of governmental plans for Wadi Al-Na'am."
NCF
would like to thank the village committee of Wadi Al-Na’am
for its role in making the first workshop successful.
Attention: Volunteers Needed for a Cycling Tour in the Unrecognized
Villages
In
early April (2/4/13—6/4/13), NCF will host a cycling tour in
cooperation with a group of activists from Belgium. During the tour,
which will last for five days, the participants will bike everyday
between a few villages. Another group will be walking between
the villages. Each night, the activists will be hosted in one
of the villages and will meet with the local community.
NCF needs English/French speaking volunteers to escort the activists
and assist with translation (from Hebrew/Arabic). We invite you to join
us for one day or more.
For details, please contact Ofer: 050-9391299, Ofer@dukium.org
Multaka-Mifgash
Presents: An Introductory Workshop Regarding the Situation of Bedouin
in the Negev (Led in English)
NCF is proud to announce the commencement of its annual Introductory
Workshop in English. The Workshop will include a series of lectures
regarding the following: recognized and unrecognized villages,
women’s status within Bedouin communities, and health issues
amongst Bedouin.
The workshop will be held on March 17th and 18th at the Multaka-Mifgash
Cultural Center.
5.2.13
Hello and happy New Year! We hope
that the year is off to a good start. For 2013, NCF has made
international outreach a priority. We ask that you help us
reach our outreach goals by sharing our updates with your friends and
colleagues and encouraging them to subscribe. Many thanks!
MK Begin’s Amendments and
Recommendations Approved
On Sunday, 27 January 2013, the
Israeli government approved Minister Benny Begin’s
recommendations and minor amendments to the Prawer Plan. The
recommendations and amendments were intended to address Bedouin
concerns about the Prawer Plan, which could displace up to 70,000
Bedouin citizens of Israel, but they will not address these concerns in
the least.
The newly approved plan states that "the government will recognize as
many unrecognized Bedouin villages as possible, provided that the land
on which the villages are located doesn't contradict the regional
planning program." However, the Metropolitan planning program
was developed taking the locations of the unrecognized villages into
only very minimal consideration. Therefore, much of this land
will be used for governmentally assigned purposes and only a very small
area will remain for the future planning of rural communities.
Significant Case in the Israeli Supreme Court
In a recent case, the Israeli
Supreme Court ruled that the State will not be able to register
contested lands as state-owned land. The District Courts will
also be required to review and arbitrate over Bedouin claims to
land. This court case involved State counter claims that were
submitted more than 30 years after Bedouin filled land claims.
The counter claims process started in 2004 to pressure Bedouin
claimants to settle their claims more rapidly (less than one fifth of
all land claims were “settled” between 1970 and
2000). This process enables the State to submit land claims
that oppose Bedouin claims through legal hearings in a District Court.
Since 2004, the State has won every legal hearing, and the contested
land has been registered as state-owned land.
According to official Israeli Land Administration (ILA) figures from
2007, the ILA had submitted 401 counter land claims and had won, as a
result of those cases that were ruled over, an area of more
than 50,000 dunams in just three years.
In the recent Supreme Court hearing, on 30 December 2012, the Court
decided that the case should return to the District Court and
be discussed in detail there. This week, the State
approached the Supreme Court and requested that that the decision made
on 30 December 2012 be heard again in a special hearing with an
expanded judiciary.
A
Worrisome Series of Demolitions
On Thursday, 17 January 2013, Negev
Bedouin experienced a series of devastating demolitions. In
the morning, police forces entered the village of Al Madbakh, and
bulldozers destroyed two houses there. One house was also
destroyed in the village of Lakia. Thursday afternoon, Al
Arakib was demolished for the 46th
time.
Japanese
Embassy Visit to the Negev
The First Secretary of
the Japanese Embassy Mr. Kikuchi visited unrecognized villages and the
town of Sequib A-Salam to study and see firsthand the situation of the
Bedouin.
Children's
Photography Workshop
The Negev Coexistence Forum's
annual photography workshop started a month ago in the Bedouin
unrecognized villages of A-Sir and Hashem Zane. On the first
day of the workshop, children received cameras. In the days
that followed, professional documentary photographers, who volunteered
to take part in this project, taught the children how to use the
cameras and how to document their lives and events in their own
villages. This past Wednesday was last day of the workshop.
It concluded with a party at which participants received one of their
shots as an impressively enlarged print along with a disk containing
all of their photos.
After a wave of mounting pressure from Bedouin residents in the Negev
and human rights groups, the Be'er Sheva municipality agreed to sell
wine during its annual wine festival outside the grounds of the city's
historical Big Mosque.
Despite
this, photos that were taken during the event display the fact that
people took alcoholic beverages into the mosque's yard, contrary to the
agreement that was reached between the
police and the Leading Committee of Negev Arabs.
Photo
by Alberto Denkberg
ILA
brags about demolitions
This week, the Israeli Land Administration (ILA) boasted on its website
that it set a new "record" in the struggle against illegal building in
the Negev by demolishing 26 Bedouin structures in one day.
In a statement on the ILA website, the organization also bragged about
having convinced seven Bedouin citizens to demolish their own homes to
avoid paying fines or facing lawsuits.
NCF strongly condemns this recent wave of ILA demolitions in the Negev,
which left numerous families without a roof over their heads. The ILA
also demolished solar panels, which, for residents in Rachmeh village,
served as their only source of electricity.
***********************
Verweise
Negev
Coexistence Forum (dukium.org)
Dukium: "Al Arakib:
A background paper about the summer of demolitions"
Dukium nach der 6. Zerstörung im Oktober: ergänzt
(Anfang Nov. noch nicht im Internet)
Haaretz: Reclaiming
the desert (27.8.10)
The Regional Council for the Unrecognized Villages in the Negev (RCUV), Website seit
2008 nur unvollständig betreut.
Videos der Zerstörungsaktionen: youtube,
10.8.10 ; youtube,
14.9.10
|
