July 28, 2007

Following a protest campaign orchestrated against the destruction of Bedouin homes in unrecognized villages in the Negev, the government is proposing a moratorium on demolition for one year. As we reported last week, the campaign is being organized by NIF grantee Regional Council for Unrecognized Negev Arab Villages (RCUV), which received a special emergency NIF grant for the protest encampment it set up, as well as extensive ongoing support and guidance from SHATIL.

Bedouin protestors remain in place opposite the Knesset.

The 12-month hiatus was proposed by the government, and Attorney General Meni Mazuz is expected to order an end to the demolitions later this week. During the moratorium, the government will seek to negotiate a solution for the 50,000 Bedouin living in 36 unrecognized villages. Meanwhile, the protest encampment opposite the Knesset remains in place as demolitions continue. Since the protest began last week, 28 homes have been destroyed in three villages, bringing the number of homes destroyed this year to 138, compared to 218 homes demolished between 2001 and 2006.

"If, as we expect, the demolitions are frozen," Atwa Abu-Fares, RCUV spokesman told NIF News, "that will be a great achievement and we will call off our protest. But we are under no illusions that the negotiations with the newly formed Bedouin Settlement Authority will not be very tough."