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Not at home on the range By Mijal Grinberg Tags: Camels, Israel, water Hundreds of camels in the South have been herded away from their home pastures in search of grazing land, which is in short supply this year due to sparse rainfall. Some herds, their owners say, have taken as much as a week and a half to reach suitable alternative grazing lands. This week, Bedouin herders took 300 camels from the Dead Sea and Arad area to an Israel Defense Forces firing zone, Range 81, near Kibbutz Lahav in the northern Negev. The Agriculture Ministry's Green Patrol turned them away, saying Range 81 only opens to grazing in April. By law, only sheep and goats are allowed to graze in Range 81, and in fact the possession and pasturing of camels is not recognized or permitted by the Agriculture Ministry. Advertisement Initially, an agreement was reached between the herders and the ministry's representatives by which the herds could remain in the area for two days while the parties arrived at a decision. But by yesterday, two days beyond the deadline, negotiations had reached an impasse. The ministry's representatives began to send the herds back to their home pastures. After further talks, an agreement was reached allowing the camels to remain in the area for another two weeks. A herder, Ibrahim Al-Atrash, from an unrecognized Bedouin village, said "in ordinary years, we manage to feed the camels near our homes, because there's enough rain. This year, the rain was half [the usual amount]. We had to find other pastures to feed the camels." Over the past three years, conflicts between the army and the Agriculture Ministry and the Bedouin herders of sheep and goats have increased since grazing lands have reportedly been taken over by the army as firing ranges. The Agriculture Ministry said in response: "Due to lack of grazing lands, the Agriculture Ministry approached the IDF with a request to use areas defined as firing zones for pasturage at times when exercises are not underway. The IDF agreed to this request, defining specific dates and specific areas in which grazing would be permitted." The camel herders and their herds sought to enter the firing zones during times when IDF forces were training in the area, and they were therefore adamantly refused entry. During these periods, it is very dangerous for the herders and their herds, and the Green Patrol sees to it that no herd will enter these areas at a time and a place not permitted by agreement with the IDF." The Agriculture Ministry also pointed out in its statement that it provides grazing land only to "herds defined as animals belonging to branches of agriculture." The IDF responded: "As every year, a specific period for grazing in Range 81 was approved: from April 4 to May 11." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Graphic footage Israel posts clips on YouTube of Jerusalem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.

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