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

The saga of Al-Arakib

15.09.2013

Court discussion, 12 September 2013

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 12^th. 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.

On September 12^th 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.

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.