Slippery Slope

Many residents of Nofit are opposed to any attempt to permit a Bedouin family to build a home in their area, on land which they have owned since the Ottoman rule of the region. The family’s huts are not connected to any utilities. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

An IDF officer charged with assaulting and badly beating an Israeli Bedouin civilian at a roadblock in December was sentenced to 75 days of military work, demotion and a suspended sentence for two years as part of a plea bargain authorized by the Jaffa military tribunal on Monday. The court banned the release of the defendant’s identity until May this year. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Authorities in the West Bank settlement of Kfar Adumim, together with the Mateh Binyamin regional council, are planning construction of an educational complex about a kilometer outside the settlement’s built-up area, and to demolish a school serving the Jahalin Bedouin tribe, which was built without a permit since the Civil Administration has refused to issue a master plan for construction in the area in which the Bedouin have settled. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

A high level official in the Licensing Bureau told the bureau’s VP during a hearing held for a Bedouin driver who’s license was suspended, that the Bedouin sector is problematic, and that the judges encourage them and give them special consideration and a chance to reform.

(Hebrew – Ynet)

The Government has approved a proposal for the regulation of Bedouin settlements in the Negev, including alterations by Minister Benny Begin to the original plan. The proposal’s goal was to bring about an end to Bedouins’ ownership claims over Negev lands, all the while offering a compensation plan and practical solutions that would appease the Bedouins and bring an end to illegal construction. Head of the Council of Unrecognized Villages, Ibrahim Al-Valkili, said: “I would prefer they amend the current proposal instead of authorizing it as is. There are many articles that we’re uncomfortable with. Our position was that we should be partners in this process, as it deals with land, compensation and moving people from one place to another.” (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

The Government has approved a proposal for regulating Bedouin settlement in the Negev, even though the proposal was not made public beforehand, nor was it shown to the Bedouin to which it applies. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Approximately 70 Bedouin from the village of Kamana are not allowed to build houses instead of the tin shacks without infrastructure in which they reside due to a dispute between the municipality of Carmiel and the Misgav Local Council regarding the jurisdiction in which their neighborhood is located. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Settlers from the illegal outpost Ma’aleh Rehavam assaulted Bedouin who were attempting to plow fields near the outpost.

(Hebrew – HaKol HaYehudi)

A Bedouin man who attempted to pray in the Beer-Sheva Country Club was asked by the club’s security guards to stop praying and leave the premises.  The guards threatened to cancel the man’s membership, and yelled at him “go to Tibi”.

(Hebrew – Walla!)

The house of Faiz Abu-Hamra, a resident of Segev Shalom, was demolished by the Israel Land Authority, even though it was built with the agreement of the Ministry of Construction and Housing’s Authority for the Regulation of Bedouin Settlements and the approval of the court.

(Hebrew – Na Le’Akir website)