Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality
פורום דו-קיום בנגב לשוויון אזרחי
منتدى التعايش السلمي في النقب من أجل المساواة المدنية

House Demolitions

The Bedouin community in the Negev/Nagab is subjected to an ongoing State policy of house and structure demolitions. State demolition of Bedouin homes can be traced to the Israeli Planning and Building Law – 1965.

In 1948, on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel, about 65,000 to 100,000 Bedouin lived in the Negev/Naqab region, currently the southern part of Israel. Following the 1948 war, the State began an ongoing process of eviction of the Bedouin from their dwellings. At the end of the 48 war, only 11,000 Bedouin people remained in the Negev/Naqab, while most of the community fled or was expelled to Jordan and Egypt, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula. During the early 1950’s and until 1966, the State of Israel concentrated the Bedouin people in a closed zone known by the name ‘al-Siyāj’ (سياج) under military administration.

The Planning and Building Law led to the classification of most of the Siyāj area as agricultural land. As a result, from the moment the law came into effect, every house built in this area was defined as illegal and all of the houses and structures already standing in the area, were retroactively declared as illegal. In 1966, with the end of the military regime, the urbanization process which the State began to plan in the 1950’s, was set in motion. The State established seven Bedouin townships, most of them within the Siyāj area, promising the residents modern services in exchange for relocation to the urbanized areas. At the same time, the Israeli policy toward the Bedouin community focused on the effort to concentrate the entire population in these seven townships. Since 1999, the State of Israel, in various government decisions, has recognized 11 of the unrecognized villages in the Negev/Naqab.

While these decisions ostensibly constituted a significant change from the previous policy under which the only option for the Bedouin population was forced urbanization, in practice, some 20 years later, there is no significant difference between the recognized villages and those which remain unrecognized. In most of the recognized villages there are no detailed urban plans, so that the residents cannot obtain building permits, the demolition policy continues, and basic infrastructures of water, electricity, sewage and roads are either non-existent or lacking.

NCF publishes its annual “House Demolition Policy” report every year. For the 2020 report, based on data collected in 2019 click here

List of reported demolitions in 2024

11.11-14.11 – The unrecognized village of Umm al-Ḥīrān was entirely demolished and evacuated.
08.05 – Wādī al-Khālīl, an unrecognized village near Shoket Junction, was entirely demolished. Only one house remains above the ruins, and it has received a demolition order.
01.04 – Bīr Haddāj, a Bedouin village located west of Route 40: Today, a few buildings were destroyed by the authorities.
29.03 – Sa’wah: One building was demolished today
28.03 – Wādī al-Khālīl is an unrecognized village near Shoket Junction: A house was demolished and its residents were asked to relocate to a different city.
13.02 – Bīr Haddāj, a Bedouin village located west of Route 40: Today, a few buildings were destroyed by the authorities.
06.02 – Saʿwah (formerly Mūladaʾh) is a recogznied village located south of Route 31. A few houses were demolished by the authorities.
06.02 – Al-Lagia is a Bedouin township. One building was demolished by authorities.
01.02 – Bīr Haddāj: the home of a 70-year-old woman was demolished by the authorities.

List of reported demolitions and plowing of fields 2022

4.11- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 210 time
24.10- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 209 time
12.10 – Bīr Haddāj, a Bedouin village located west of Route 40. Six commercial buildings were demolished by authorities and one house.
3.10- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 208 time
26.9- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 207 time
22.9 – Rahat, a Bedouin township. One building was destroyed by the authorities and six protesters were arrested.
7.9- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 206 time
25.08 – al-Ġarrah is an unrecognized village, located 17 km east of Be’er-Sheva, south of Route 31. Two buildings were demolished by the owners.
25.08 – As-Sayyid is a historic Bedouin village located south of the town of Ḥūrah. One building was demolished.
25.08 – Az-Zarnūg, an unrecognized village located near the Bedouin township of Šgīb as-Salām (Segev Shalom). One building was demolished.
15.8- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 205 time
19.7- al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 204 time
27.6 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 203 time
07.6 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 202 time
09.5 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 201 time
22.3 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 200 time
10.3 – Wādi an-Naʿam is an unrecognized village located about 4 km south of Be’er Sheva. A house was destroyed by the authorities.
10.3 – al-Ġarrah is an unrecognized village, located 17 km east of Be’er-Sheva, south of Route 31. Two buildings were demolished by authorities
22.2 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 199 time.
20.2 -Tal as-Sabaʿ, a governmental planned township. One building was demolished by authorities.
20.2 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. Dunams were ploughed by the authorities
9.2 – az-Zaʿarūrah, is an unrecognized Bedouin village located east of the township of Ksīfih, on Route 80. A house under construction was destroyed by the authorities.
2.2 –Wādi an-Naʿam is an unrecognized village located about 4 km south of Be’er Sheva. A house was destroyed by the authorities.
2.2 – Al-Buqayʿah. 3 houses were demolished by the authorities.
1.2 – Maarit. One building was demolished by authorities.
27.1 – Al-Lagia is a Bedouin township. A local shop was demolished by authorities.
25.1 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 197 time.

List of reported demolitions and plowing of fields 2021

22.12 –Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. The authorities demolished a shed for a car wash business, accompanied by the Police
20.12 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 196 time.
8.12 – Bīr Haddāj, a Bedouin village located west of Route 40. Two buildings were demolished by authorities.
2.12 – Khirbit al-Watan an unrecognized village situated south of route 31. One building was demolished by authorities.
24.11 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 195 time.
03.11 – Hura, a Bedouin town established by the State near Khirbet Khura. One building was demolished by the authorities
28.10 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 194 time.
27.10 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. One building was demolished by the authorities
27.10 – Tal as-Sabaʿ, a governmental planned township. One building was demolished by authorities.
30.09 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 193 time.
02.09 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 192 time.
05.08 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 191 time.
14.07 – Bīr al-Ḥamām, an unrecognized village located north of route 25. One building was demolished by authorities.
07.07 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 190 time.
30.06 – al-Bḥīrah, a Bedouin village located 3 km East of Ksīfih, West of Route 80. A house was demolished by its owner after a demolition order was hung on the building.
30.06 – Ṣwāwīn, a Bedouin village 10 km south-east of Be’er-Sheva, south of Road 25. One building was demolished by authorities.
27.06 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 189 time.
01.06 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 188 time.
19.04 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 187 time.
08.04 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. 50 dunams were ploughed and one fence was destroyed by the authorities
07.04 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. Two buildings were demolished by the authorities
05.04 – Tal ʿArād – an unrecognized village located north-west of the Jewish town Arad. 100 eviction orders were distributed to the residents
25.03 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 186 time.
18.03 – Al-Lagia is a Bedouin township. One building was demolished by authorities.
11.03 – Um Gibou, an unrecognized village near Umm Batīn. One building was demolished by its owners.
11.03 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 185 time.
11.03 – Az-Zarnūg, an unrecognized village located near the Bedouin township of Šgīb as-Salām (Segev Shalom). One building was demolished by its owners.
03.03 – Ar’ara An-Nagab is a Bedouin township. One building was demolished by authorities.
02.03 – Saʿwah (formerly Mūladaʾh) is a recogznied village located south of Route 31. 700 dunams were plowed by the authorities
01.03 – Tel As-Sab’a (Tel Sheva) is a Bedouin township. 2,500 dunam were destroyed by the authorities and five people were detained
01.03 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. Lands were ploughed by the authorities
23.2 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 184 time.
22.2 – Saʿwah, a Bedouin village located south of Route 31. 5,000 dunams were plowed and 11 citizens were detained by the authorities
17.02 – Rahat, a Bedouin township. One building was demolished by the authorities.
17.02 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. One building was demolished by the authorities.
17.02 – az-Zarnūg, an unrecognized village located near the Bedouin township of Šgīb as-Salām (Segev Shalom). One building was demolished by authorities.
17.02 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 183 time.
10.02 – Khirbit al-Watan, an unrecognized village situated south of route 31. Two building were demolished and 70 trees uprooted
10.02 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. One building was demolished by the authorities and 10 people were arrested
20.01 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 182 time.
07.01 – Rahat, a Bedouin township. 250 dunam of crops were destroyed by authorities.

List of reported demolitions 2020

17.12 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 181 time.
09.12 – Ksīfih, a bedouin township. One building was demolished by the authorities.
07.12 – Ṣwāwīn, an unrecognized village situated 10 km south-east of Be’er-Sheva. One building was demolished by the authorities.
02.12 – Ṣwāwīn, an unrecognized village situated 10 km south-east of Be’er-Sheva. One building was demolished by the authorities.
25.11 – Tal al-Malaḥ, unrecognized village north-west of Nevatim. Two buildings were demolished by the authorities.
19.11 – Wādī al-Khālīl, unrecognized village near Shoket Junction. One building was demolished by the authorities
19.11 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 180 time.
15.11 – .al-Grīn, a Bedouin village situated south-west of the town of Ḥūrah. One house was demolished by authorities.
5.11 – Bīr al-Ḥamām, an unrecognized village located north of route 25. One house was demolished by authorities.

22.10 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 179 time.
17.9 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 178 time.
27.8 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 177 time.
22.7 – al-ʿArāgīb is an unrecognized village west of Route 40, between Lehavim and Goral Junctions. The entire village was demolished for the 176 time.
02.07 – Khirbit al-Watan, an unrecognized village situated south of route 31. Crops and agricultural shelters destroyed by authorities.
24.06 – Bīr al-Ḥamām, an unrecognized village located north of route 25. Two houses were demolished by authorities.
18.06 – az-Zarnūg, an unrecognized village located near the Bedouin township of Šgīb as-Salām (Segev Shalom). Two houses and one animal pen were demolished by authorities.
04.05 – Rakhamah, an unrecognized village located near the Jewish town of Dimona. One fence was destroyed by authorities.
18.03 – Tal al-Malaḥ, an unrecognized village located north-west of the military air base Nevatim. Crops and fields were destroyed by authorities.
18.03 – Tal ʿArād – an unrecognized village located north-west of the Jewish town Arad. 500 dunams of land were destroyed by authorities.
12.03 – Khirbit al-Watan, an unrecognized village situated south of route 31. One house was demolished by authorities.
March – al-Bḥīrah, an unrecognized village west of Route 80. 500 dunam of crops were destroyed by authorities.
March – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. 400 dunam of crops were destroyed by authorities.
March – Wadi Rw’ain, an unrecognized village. 120 dunam of crops were destroyed by authorities.
March – al-Ġarrah, an unrecognized village located 17 km east of Be’er-Sheva, south of Route 31. 90 dunam of crops were destroyed by authorities.
March – Khirbit al-Watan, an unrecognized village south of Route 31. One house was demolished by authorities.
05.03 – Umm Batīn, a recognized village south-east of Route 60. Crops destroyed by authorities.
05.03 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 175 time.
03.03 – Wādi an-Naʿam, the largest unrecognized Bedouin village, located south of Be’er Sheva. Several houses were demolished by enforcement authorities.
12.02 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 174 time.
06.02 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 173 time.
19.01 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 172 time.
16.01 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 171 time.
06.01 – al-ʿArāgīb, a Bedouin village west of Route 40. The entire village was demolished for the 170th time.