Negev group: Israel misinformed UN about woes of Bedouin
This is the first time the UN has requested an official Israeli response with regard to Israeli citizens.
By Dana Weiler-Polak Tags: UN Israel newsThe United Nations requested in October an official Israeli response to a report claiming the state was inaccurate in describing the status of Bedouin living in the Negev.
The August 2009 report by the Negev Coexistence Forum, comprising residents of unrecognized Bedouin villages, says there are contradictions and inaccuracies in Israel's last annual statement on the implementation of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it submitted in July 2008.
This is the first time the UN has made such a request with regard to Israeli citizens.
"In the area of political and civil rights, Israel represents the standards of a Third World country," forum coordinator Noam Tirosh said.
"How does this jibe with Israel's claim that it is the only democracy in the Middle East? It is inconceivable that in 2010, tens of thousands of citizens are not connected to the electricity grid, do not have running water and do not have basic civil and political rights."
The forum, which also includes a number of human rights groups, said the state told the UN that most of the Negev Bedouin live in a number of recognized cities, while in fact, tens of thousands of Bedouin live in unrecognized villages.
This results in an infringement of their rights and inequality with Jewish Israelis, because the Bedouin in the unrecognized villages lack electricity, running water, sewage, roads, health services, education, garbage collection and other services, the forum said.
According to the forum, the government is trying to force the Bedouin to move to the cities.
The state's report says that construction master plans have been approved for all the Arab local councils in the Negev, while the forum says this is only partially true. It gave the example of Lakiya, where people have still not received building lots they purchased in 1976.
The state says it is compensating people who agree to move from unrecognized villages to the city, but the forum says the compensation is only NIS 100,000, not enough to build a house. The number of lots has also not kept up with population growth, the forum says.
From 2003-2007 a total of 2,801 lots were put up for sale but every year more than 2,000 Bedouin couples marry,
The forum says the state is using the lack of running water in the unrecognized villages to force residents to move to the towns.
But according to the forum even in the Bedouin towns there is running water only in the center of the community, necessitating the installation of expensive temporary pipes.
According to the state's report, medical clinics in the unrecognized villages have air conditioning and proper equipment.
However, the forum claims that many of the 12 clinics, which serve 83,000 people, are located in prefabricated structures that get their electricity from generators, and that medicines are not kept refrigerated when the clinic is closed.
The clinics are also located on the outskirts of the villages, making access on foot difficult for children and the elderly. In the nearby Jewish cities of Be'er Sheva, Yeruham and Dimona, according to the forum, there are clinics "for minorities only," that serve Bedouin from the unrecognized villages.
The state's report fails to mention what the forum calls inequities in the allocation of social services to the Bedouin towns, compared to national standards.
Shelters for the needy, day-care centers, senior centers and centers for treating family violence are all lacking in the Bedouin communities, according to the forum. The forum says there are almost no government offices or agencies in the Bedouin towns, such as the National Insurance Institute and the Employment Service. At the same time, poverty is rampant in the Bedouin communities, reaching nearly twice the national average in the unrecognized villages and somewhat less, but still above the national average, in the towns.
The forum claims the state ignored the question in the report about religion and culture, and did so because the state does not allow sites devoted to the Muslim religion and culture in Be'er Sheva.
There are also no places of prayer in the unrecognized villages, no cemeteries and no allocation of resources for religious needs, the forum said.
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The perspective of the Arab world must be quite different from San Diego than it is for those who have lived there and know something about it. There are 22 Arab members of the Arab League, and that includes Palestine. Ten of them produce oil or are involved to some degree in the oil business. You speak of grinding poverty in the rest. There is indeed poverty in the Arab world, just as there would be if there were 22 Jewish countries in the Middle East. But if you had been to cities like Beirut, Damascus, Dubai, Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah you would consider your statement a gross exaggeration and uninformed. If your point is that all Arabs are poverty stricken anyway, so why worry about those in the Negev, you probably speak for all Jews. Israel has proved in Gaza that it is willing to try to starve a civilian population, and the 42 year illegal occupation of Palestinian territory proves that there is no sense of human decency among Israelis regarding Palestinians.
You're wrong about USA money going to israel. Under the Foreign Military Financing program, ISrael received $2.7 billion in aid--a gift--not a loan--a gift... The whole program is for countries to buy US defense products(including airplanes.) The USA gave israel an exemption so that some of that money can purchase Israeli products--the only country with that exemption. This year is 3rd Year in a ten year $30 billion gifting program to israel. In addition, Am Jews can deduct charitble contributions to certain Israeli charities--taking money out the USA treasury. Also, the USA co-signs loans with major internationsl banks for the amounjt of $ 1.5 billion for operating revenues. No major bank will lend to Israel without the USA gauranteed.
The perspective of the Arab world must be quite different from San Diego than it is for those who have lived there and know something about it. There are 22 Arab members of the Arab League, and that includes Palestine. Ten of them produce oil or are involved to some degree in the oil business. You speak of grinding poverty in the rest. There is indeed poverty in the Arab world, just as there would be if there were 22 Jewish countries in the Middle East. But if you had been to cities like Beirut, Damascus, Dubai, Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah you would consider your statement a gross exaggeration and uninformed. If your point is that all Arabs are poverty stricken anyway, so why worry about those in the Negev, you probably speak for all Jews. Israel has proved in Gaza that it is willing to try to starve a civilian population, and the 42 year illegal occupation of Palestinian territory proves that there is no sense of human decency among Israelis regarding Palestinians.
It is true that Israel can provide better infrastructure to the Negev Bedouins; on the other hand, their traditional historical culture is one of a nomadic lifestyle of living in encampments rather than permanent settlements, so this certainly must be kept in mind when considering the progress of their access to various material goods and services, in comparison to other populations in Israel, including Jews and other Israeli Arabs. For example, why not focus the comparison of these Bedouins to Arab citizens in Nazareth? There will still be a colossal discrepancy.
"You think that because bedouin culture is to flout the authorities then we should just let them get away with it?" Certainly. The Declaration of a Jewish state allows for it. "What about honor killings, to some muslims its part of their culture should we allow it because its their culture?" Most of the world's murders are honour killings in the twisted minds of those who commit murder. Is it a part of Bedouin culture? "What would happen if you were out of town and a group of bedouin moved into your home" They're moving into someone's home.. "Israel like ALL countries have planning regulations that say where you can and cannot build" Ah yes, especially in Palestinian territory illegally...where Israeli civil law is illegally instituted. Suddenly you're a stickler for LAW??? Very funny!! Your relatives. They have a house to live in, no? Who cares about their garage.
CJ " Its part of nomadic culture to flout the authorities, and that is what rhw inhabitants of these villages are doing " You think that because bedouin culture is to flout the authorities then we should just let them get away with it? What about honor killings, to some muslims its part of their culture should we allow it because its their culture? What would happen if you were out of town and a group of bedouin moved into your home illegally and refused to leave, would you let them stayy because its their culture? Israel like ALL countries have planning regulations that say where you can and cannot build. I have relatives in the UK their garage was structualy unsafe so thinking as they were just replacing one garage with another they pulled it down and built a new one. The planning officials found out and want them to pull it down & right now they are in the middle of an appeal what was an inocent mistake. So all countries have planning laws &the bedouin intentionally flout
The government is not going to pump funds into illegal towns. There are things called planning laws in Israel which everybody must obay but the bedouin do not & the complain the government isn't investing. This is a problem that bedouin suffer from & not jews because 90% of jews live in the main towns & cities in the south they don't build their own villages the way bedouin do, their culture is not big city life but they still must abide by planning laws. Also the south in general doesn't get high levels of government investment Including tourist towns like Eilat which has a shortage of even things like medical clinics. Just because the government neglects some areas & spends big in others doesn't make it a democracy issue its about prioritizing where to spend a limited budget. Tel Aviv is a very rich city and gets plenty of investment, Jerusalem is one of the poorest cities and gets very little in proportion to places like Tel Aviv but that doesn't mean Israel is not democratic.
What if they choose to move out of the desert into Tel Aviv? Perhaps even next door to you.
"It should be noted that the Bedouins villages that are "unrecognized" are actually illegal settlements where people have decided to set up their homes." So you say that illegal structures should not be connected to electricity and water, it's a good argument, but why do all those illegal settlements in the Westbank have this stuff? Why is there any water supply in Ma'ale Adumim or electricity in Ariel? At least the Bedouin are Israeli citizens on Israeli soil, not thieves on foreign land.
" Mr. Tirosh you can sale this kind of garbage to naive people or people that always want to find Israel at fault." These Bedouins aren't Israeli, in Israel? " The Jewish Israelis have to built their infrastructure..their roads..their clinics and outfitting them with air conditioning The Govt builds it... "They pay for their schools and pay both municipal taxes and state taxes." The Bedouins don't? Why don`t you take a look at the Bedouin living in Jordan? Egypt or any of the other Arab country? " Uh huh So it's OK for Israel to shaft their Bedouin citizens. OK..... "In all the years the US has helped Israel, Israel has never defaulted on paying it back" Best you check on this paying back business... Now if these were Jewish citizens of Israel.....
"It should be noted that the Bedouins villages that are "unrecognized" are actually illegal settlements where people have decided to set up their homes." That's OK then! Build Bedouins BUILD!!! " If Jewish people in Israel did this, there would be an uproar." Well Jewish people do it outside of Israel. In Palestinian territories. Territories they're no even citizens of. Illegally annexed territories. Territories illegally acquired by war and NEVER annexed. Territories where Israel has illegally instituted Israeli civilian law. "It is part of the nomadic culture to flout the authorities, and that is what the inhabitants of these villages are doing.." Good. The Israeli Declaration says:" it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; " "..and not provide them with services wherever they decide to take over our land. " It's their land too if they're Israeli citizens.
What a bunch of bull. Mr. Tirosh you can sale this kind of garbage to naive people or people that always want to find Israel at fault. The Jewish Israelis have to built their infrastructure and pay for the water to be brought to their homes. Israeli villages pay for their roads and for building their clinics and outfitting them with air conditioning. They pay for their schools and pay both municipal taxes and state taxes. Why don't you take a look at the Bedouin living in Jordan? Egypt or any of the other Arab country? As for you Nick, The money you are so afraid of what and how Israel is using it is actually a loan it isn't an outright gift as you want to believe. In all the years the US has helped Israel, Israel has never defaulted on paying it back. Secondly, part of the agreement is that the money is used to buy US goods. Last, I do not know where you live, but where I live I have to pay for all I receive. Are the US government and my state government discriminating against me?
It should be noted that the Bedouins villages that are "unrecognized" are actually illegal settlements where people have decided to set up their homes. If Jewish people in Israel did this, there would be an uproar. It is part of the nomadic culture to flout the authorities, and that is what the inhabitants of these villages are doing. The government of Israel should move them to the legal Bedouin towns and cities, and not provide them with services wherever they decide to take over our land. The whole situation is just absurd.
As a US citizen, I would like the fraction of my tax dollars that goes to Israel to go straight to these bedoin villagers.
Only the well connected tribes in the oil-producing states drive around in BMWs. The rest of the 23 states is a monument to shame. To make up for poverty, people have as many children as possible, thinking that this will provide for them in old age. Israel cannot run electric lines out into the desert for every tent. The forum is using norms for evaluation that are not applicable to reality.