Ethnic Cleansing
Israel Clears Bedouin Villages
The unrecognised Bedouin village Umm al-Hiran in the Naqab (Negev desert),
facing imminent demolition to make way for a new Jewish settlement.
In the Naqab, Southern Israel, 30000
Palestinian Bedouin citizens of Israel
are threatened with forcible eviction from
their unrecognized villages which do not
appear on any maps or plans for new
Jewish only settlements. Such villages
have to provide their own houses, paved
roads and services such as electricity,
water, schools and clinics. Nearby Jewish
settlements have all facilities provided by
the state.
The village Sheikh says “It was a desert
with no roads, houses or services. We
built the village and provided the water
pipes. Life has been tough but we worked
hard to develop this place into a beautiful
and wonderful village”.
Since 2001 they have been under a threat
of expulsion from their land and
demolition of their houses. A Jewish only
portakabin settlement has been
established nearby, ready to take over
after the villagers are expelled. The court
has fixed the middle of March as the date
Umm al-Hiran
after which the village can be
The Bedouin in this village have been
forcibly moved before. In 1956 they were demolished. The Bedouin villagers have
expelled by the Israelis from more fertile said “Why evict us when we can both live
here? There is plenty of space”.
land nearer the sea. Their present
land was given to them as consolation. Its The Bedouin are full citizens of Israel.
population includes doctors, teachers and They are being treated as if they have
no rights.
lawyers, as well as sheep farmers.