Wednesday, 21 August, 12.00 - 1.15pm (ET, USA), 7.00 - 8.15pm (Jerusalem), 5.00 - 6.15pm (UK),

Join ICAHD UK's (The Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions) next Webinar - The Plight of the Palestinians in the Unrecognized Villages in the Naqab

With guest speakers Khalil Alamour & Yeela Raanan
This webinar will provide an overview of the Bedouin community's history in the Naqab (Negev) and the ongoing struggle of residents in unrecognized villages for recognition and equality at a time when demolitions are soaring.

Before the state of Israel was established in 1948, there were around 90,000 Bedouins living in the Naqab but after the war, the state began an ongoing process of evicting the Bedouins from their dwellings. Soon only 11,000 Bedouins remained as most of the communities fled or were expelled. Nowadays, about 250,000 Bedouins reside in the Naqab area in three types of localities: 35 unrecognized villages; seven governmental planned townships; and ten newly recognized villages.

All of the Bedouins face discriminatory practices but for those living in the unrecognized villages, life is harsh and tenuous. Despite the residents being citizens of the state of Israel, the government deems them “illegal” and a menace. They are denied kindergartens, schools and health clinics. There is hardly any infrastructure, including electricity, running water, trash collection, paved roads and sewage disposal systems. These villages have no representation in the different local government bodies.

The central Israeli policy toward the Bedouin indigenous community in the Naqab is the demolition of their homes and infrastructure vital for living. In recent years well over 2000 structures have been demolished annually. A growing phenomenon is that Israeli authorities force the Bedouin to demolish their own home or face huge, unaffordable fines. In 2024, there has been a drastic increase of demolitions with entire villages flattened in one day.

To register: ICAHD UK Webinar - The Plight of the Palestinians in the Unrecognized Villages in the Naqab - ICAHD

Instagram post: ICAHD UK (@icahduk) • Instagram photos and videos