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

Update from Negev Coexistence Forum

15.07.2012

• Emergency conference in Wadi Al-Na’am
• EU condemns Prawer Plan
• NCF activites in Umm-Mitnan
• Al Arakib marks two years since first demolition
• Home demolitions across the Negev

On July 10, the local committee of the Bedouin village of Wadi Al-Na’am initiated an emergency conference, in response to a recent conference held by the Authority for the Regulation of Bedouin Settlement in the Negev in Squeb A-Salam (Segev-Shalom). During the Authority’s conference, Israeli officials presented a new plan for the expansion of the township of Segev-Shalom, with the aim of inticing the residents of Wadi Al-Na’am to move there.

During the Wadi Al-Na’am conference, local speakers stressed their opposition to the Prawer-Amidror plan – which would forcibly displace 30,000 Bedouin citizens in the Negev – and made it clear that they did not approve of the plan to move them into Segev-Shalom. The residents of Wadi Al’Na’am are demading to stay in their village and for the village to be recognized where it is.

The local village committee invited NCF to attend the conference; NCF Executive Director, Haia Noach, spoke in support of the residents’ just struggle. Noach said: “There are more than 100 Jewish settlements in the Negev; therefore, there is no reason not to recognize the Bedouin villages too.” She added that the demands of the residents of Wadi Al-Na’am are part of a wider clamor for the recognition of all the unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev.

EU condemns Prawer Plan

The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning Israel’s treatment of its Bedouin citizens on July 5, and urged the Israeli government to scrap the Prawer Plan, which would forcibly displace 30,000 Bedouin from their homes in the Negev.

Describing the Bedouin as an “indigenous people leading a sedentary and traditionally agricultural life on their ancestral lands,” the European Parliament calls for the protection of the Bedouin communities of the West Bank and in the Negev, and for their rights to be fully respected by the Israeli authorities, and condemns any violations (e.g. house demolitions, forced displacements, public service limitations); calls also, in this context, for the withdrawal of the Prawer Plan by the Israeli Government,” the resolution stated.

To read the full text of the European Parliament resolution, click here.

NCF activities in Umm-Mitnan

This week, Habonim Dror, in cooperation with NCF, held a variety of summer activities in the village of Umm-Mitnan. 40 local children enthusiastically participated in three days of activities and events.

Al Arakib marks two years since first demolition

The Bedouin village of Al Arakib marked two years since the Israeli authorities first demolished the village on July 27, 2010. On Saturday, village residents hosted activities for local children, and welcomed Israelis, Bedouin representatives of the unrecognized villages and international supporters to the village to commemorate the anniversary and the residents’ resolve to remain. Al Arakib has been demolished 36 times since July 2010; residents have vowed to stay on their ancestral land despite this intense pressure from the Israeli authorities.

House demolitions across the Negev

Two houses and one mosque were demolished in Wadi Arikha village, south west of Abde on July 4. That same day, one house was demolished in Segev Shalom, and one house was demolished in Umm Batin.

To view NCF’s full list of house demolitions in the Negev, click here.