Israel to triple demolition rate for illegal Bedouin construction
2010 should see 700 illegal structures destroyed and the plowing of 9,000 dunams of land to prevent new construction.
By Yanir Yagna Tags: Israel police Israel news Israel BedouinThe Interior Ministry, the Israel Lands Administration and the southern district of the Israel Police have jointly resolved to triple the demolition rate of illegal construction in the scattered Bedouin communities in the Negev. The decision came at a meeting about a month ago.
According to data obtained by Haaretz, 2009 saw an increase over the previous year in the demolition of illegal Bedouin homes and efforts to prevent illegal Bedouin construction. Last year, 254 structures were destroyed.
In 2008, the figure was 225 illegal structures. Sources at the joint agency meeting said illegal Bedouin construction in the Negev is not only continuing despite these enforcement efforts but is even increasing. This year should see 700 illegal structures destroyed and the deep plowing of 9,000 dunams of land to prevent new construction.
Ibrahim Al-Wakili, who heads the Regional Council of Unrecognized Villages, warned of an explosive situation if demolition even doubles.
"The Bedouin in unrecognized villages don't constitute any kind of obstacle to the development of the Negev, and the state must involve us just as [it does] other residents of the Negev," Al-Wakili said. "Even if they triple the demolitions," he added, "it won't help, if the state has no solution for people who for the past 60 years have suffered neglect. At least they shouldn't begin an intensified demolition campaign. The village residents cannot be put in a situation in which there is just demolition. It won't help. From the moment you press on the balloon too much, ultimately something happens. We call on the prime minister and all of those responsible for the demolitions not to bring people to the brink of despair. This is not healthy for any of the parties [involved]."
At the beginning of last year, the southern district police commander of the Israel Police, Yohanan Danino, met with Bedouin representatives and told them definitively that illegal Bedouin construction in the Negev would not be permitted.
He suggested that those present at the meeting not tolerate illegal construction and arrange on their own to have illegal structures demolished. Over the past year, there was a 30 percent rise in the number of demolitions carried out by the Bedouin themselves, but this was still greatly surpassed by the number of requests to stop demolitions.
Bedouin 'destroy ancient sites'
The police are responsible for accompanying Israel Lands Administration and Interior Ministry inspectors and to deal with the Bedouin reaction to the demolitions, which has included damage to archaeological sites and nature reserves.
A police source said the Bedouin have destroyed ancient sites and forests in a show of force. At another meeting about a month ago with Bedouin and other regional leadership, Danino warned that any retaliatory action following the demolitions, such as uprooting trees in Jewish National Fund forests and destruction such as occurred at the Ein Avdat National Park archaeological site, will be forcefully dealt with.
The regional council head in Omer, just outside of Be'er Sheva, Pini Badash, welcomed the police policy, but warned: "It's a drop in the ocean and appears as if they are trying to put a finger in the giant dike to stop the flow of water. Enforcement must be stepped up completely."
A former head of the Regional Council of Unrecognized Communities, Hussein Al-Rafia, said he intends to petition the High Court of Justice if the increased enforcement decision is carried out.
"The police and also the Interior Ministry have to understand that there is a problem of 100,000 residents without [municipal] planning or recognition and they cannot build their homes in a legal manner."
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Justin, these are not just Arabs . these are the original population . they have been living there thousands of years before your family arrived into this land.Think about it, you are claiming the land because ONCE UPON A TIME jews lived there, but they have never lived anywhere else.
Re Zio-4ever's "There is nothing abusive, cruel or inhumane about enforcing the law." Ah yes, the LAW! I think it was Anatole France who said, "The law in its infinite majesty forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread". For rich and poor, substitute Israel and the Bedouins...
The deliberate dishonesty of such posts is nauseating. It's almost worse than the offenses themselves.
Yes, Mr. Thyme, it is illegal under international law for Israelis (not just Jewish ones) to build in the West Bank. As to whether Arab Israelis are allowed to build in Israel: that is a matter for Israeli law, influenced (unlike your thought processes) by ordinary considerations of justice and humanity. And yes, you are the racist, for trying to equate the actions of Arab Isralis in their own country with those of illegal colonisers. Or maybe you think that these Bedouins don't have Isareli nationality? Sorry, wishful thinking.
Its a fact that many more arabs than jews build illegally but if they do then their construction projects come down just same as arab ones do. All countries have and need planning laws ( including your own country ) just like they need other laws to keep order in society even if you don't like the laws and feel they are unfair. It doesn't matter if your Bill Gates or if your living bellow the poverty line le law says your not allowed to do it and your going to be punished if you break into somebodies home and rob them. You can own a Ferrari or an old banger thats can barely drive you both have to follow the same speed limit. There is nothing abusive, cruel or inhumane about enforcing the law.
What would happen if a construction company decided to build an apartment block in land they don't own or even if they did own the land but the ILA decided it didn't fit in with its enviroment? Near where I live there is a jewish developer he wants to build a very big building but he can't get permission from the ILA so until he gets it he cant build. The ILA would order it pulled down, it works that way worldwide If an individual builds an extension or a garage on their own property without a permit then it can be pulled down. I have a brother in the UK he wanted to build a new garage, there was already an old building he had used as a workshop so he saw no legal problems pulling it down and rebuilding a new garage. Turned out he did need permission & right now he is trying to talk the authorities into not pulling it down If the Bedouin built without permission from the ILA then they have broken the law and it can pulled down. Without these laws people would build anything anywhere
hint.
A Modest Proposal: For Preventing the Children of Beduin People in Israeland from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public -
And they claim that we are the racists! LOL!
Israel keeps amazing me. Has everyone truly gone crazy? How can you be surprised if after years of being abused some people turn to violence?
I am going to share with the American people how abusive and cruel Israeli officials are to the Bedouin people while their own people stand idlly by. I imagine it will be a cold day in hell before anyone comes to the aid of an Israeli again. (Coupled with their inhumanitaty towards Gazans) Indeed, if anyone' homes should be demolished today it should be their illegal settlements which a 14 justice panel at the Hague ruled unanimously in 2004 that all Israeli structures in the Palestinian territories must be disman-tled &void as they are inviolation of the law Dutch
The belligerent state authorities continue to demolish Arab Palestinian and Bedouin homes while illegal Jewish homes spring up all over the place. Democratic state of Israel. I think not... Israel torments the weak by making their lives a living hell...