General Background

The unrecognized village of Umm Nmīlah is located about 2 km. north of Rahat and there are around 700 people currently residing in the village. Umm Nmīlah is an historic village, which existed prior to the establishment of the State of Israel. It is named after one of the hills in the village area, which is infested by nests of ants. There are only members of the A- Ziadana tribe living in Umm Nmīlah. Their land is estimated to be around 4,000 dunam. 

Services and Infrastructure

There are no education or health services in the village and the residents are forced to Rahat for school and medical attention. The village has no paved roads. 

Umm Nmīlah is connected to the national water system, but only half of its houses receive electricity from the State. The people who are disconnected from electricity are forced to produce power themselves by operating solar panels and generators. 

Threats and the Future of the Village

Umm Nmīlah is  unrecognized by the State, which means it is subject to a policy of house demolitions. Houses that have been repaired, refurbished, or even new buildings are considered illegal and thus, liable for demolition. 

 According to the information from the planning authorities, the village will be recognized as part of an agricultural neighborhood and will belong to the city of Rahat. The plan, which was deposited on 27 January 2016 in the Planning Administration and is currently awaiting approval by the District Committee, covers 3,468 dunams, of which 568 dunams are intended for residential purposes. In total, the neighborhood will include 1,287 housing units, an average of 2.25 units per dunam, and about 585 dunams of the plan will be allocated to agriculture and agriculture and farm buildings. Connecting the two centers.