Neglect of Israel’s Bedouin communities could lead to catastrophe, activist warns
Hagai Reznik warns decades of negligence towards the Bedouin community of Israel to the Negev could lead to a disaster, citing illegal weapons, a crime and a lack of support from the state as key problems.
Decades of negligence towards the Israeli Bedouin community could lead to disaster, warned the Rifman Institute for the development of the Negev Hagai Reznik.
Most of the Bedouin sector is normative, commented Reznik; However, he highlighted major problems, including tens of thousands of illegal weapons circulating in the community, as well as repeated extortion and crime.
The state “does not understand that their conception of the Bedouins at the Negev will explode on the face of the public,” he warned.
Reznik said that his dispute does not concern any Prime Minister or the government’s policy in particular, but with negligence and lack of understanding of the state as a whole. “Without aggressive treatment with state tools on the issue, in particular economic development, integration into the workforce and boundaries and legislative rules applied, the situation becomes a disaster.”
“Some government ministries listen, but he does not understand that it requires interdepartmental cooperation,” he added.
Members of the Bedouin community in southern Israel, summon a meeting with journalists, demanding justice for the death of their parent, Osama Abu Eissa, who was executed by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attack, near the village of Hura, Israel on November 9, 2023 (Credit: Reuters / Ammar Awad)
Due to his work at the Rifman Institute, Reznik worked on plans to promote the Negev and improve the quality of life of Jewish and Bedouins residents of the region. However, he warned that “the fact that there are 150,000 Bedouins living in tin huts, while the regulatory body has no legal power, and regulates only a few percent, or even none, claims of property”, is a major problem, which leads to colonies of Bedouins suffering from terrible negligence, in his opinion.
Reznik also works on an educational program in the community. He argues that many Bedouin students do not study in the Israeli education system, which widens the gap between communities.
He accuses the state of being for lack of this, alleging that “instead of promoting quality Israeli quality for integration into society, there is a lack of economic encouragement and encouragement to serious crimes. Instead of the necessary searches and the administrative detention necessary for illegal weapons.”
More than 100,000 illegal weapons, firearms
The presence of more than 100,000 illegal firearms and weapons, according to Rifman Institute estimates, means that criminals in the region are almost as well armed as the southern Israeli police district. “This endangers everyone, the two Jewish residents and the population of majority normative Bedouines,” warned Reznik.
“The Neguev is already paying a price and will continue to pay a high price. This will also harm the center of Israel, are not mistaken,” he continued.
“Most of the residents of Bedouin are laws that are respectful of the laws and incredible, but the balance will be disrupted if negligence continues. We are at a step from there,” he added.
Those among the Bedouin friends of Reznik who denounce the negligence of the state feel as if they cannot do so for fear of being threatened, he said.
