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

The number of structures demolished in 2020 is historically the highest

10.03.2021

In 2020, 2,568 buildings were demolished in the Bedouin villages in the Negev. This represents a rise of 13% in demolition of structures compared to 2019. Despite the humanitarian crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this is the highest number ever recorded of structures demolished in one year in the Arab Bedouin communities. This data was obtained from information NCF received from the Southern Administration for the Coordination of Enforcement of Land Laws.

NCF found out that in a period of only six years, 11,513 structures were demolished in the Bedouin villages in the Negev, and the number of demolitions is growing noticeably each year.

Recently, the State began plowing fields used by Bedouin citizens for agriculture, harming their source of livelihood and food, their tradition and their connection to their lands. All this is done forcefully while the economy is still under restrictions, with thousands of children that lack access to the education system and adults who are still unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week, we contacted the authorities together with the Israeli Association for Civil Rights, and demanded to stop the demolition of houses as well as the damage to the agricultural crops of the Bedouin residents in the Negev.

To access the letter in Hebrew

The photo was taken by Amal Abu Kwider, az-Zarnūg, 15.09.2020