Tragedy continues for Israel’s Bedouin citizens

Published: 3 December 2016

Last updated: 4 March 2024

The High Court dismissed the final appeal against demolition of Atir and Umm al-Hiran some time ago but it has been delayed, apparently to allow further assessment of arrangements for evacuation and alternative accommodation.

Evacuation of Bedouin village slated for demolition postponed following appeal – i24news 22.11.16
Community spokesman says villagers afraid for their future. ‘I think this is racism - part of the citizens, the state pushes them out, demolishes their houses and gives the other people everything. I want the government and the state to give all the people everything.’ More than half of Israel’s estimated 260,000 Bedouin citizens live in unrecognised villages without utilities, many in extreme poverty. Atir/Umm al-Hiran is one of dozens of such villages slated for destruction.

Zionism at its best – Amira Hass – Haaretz 30.11.16
The land in the Negev that Israel has designated for religious Jewish families with ties to the West Bank settlement movement is called Atir/Umm al-Hiran, and for 60 years it has been home to members of the Bedouin Al-Qi’an tribe.

From Umm el-Hiran, the future of Zionism looks bleak - Orly Noy - +972 Magazine 22.11.16
Israeli authorities delay the demolition of the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran. But it’s just a matter of time. A regime that by definition privileges one national group at the expense of another, the indigenous group, has no choice but to destroy Umm al-Hiran for the benefit of the Jews waiting to move in.

And see:

The tragic resilience of Israel’s unrecognised Arab villages April 5, 2016