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In the last three weeks, the Israeli authorities have issued one hundred eviction orders to villagers in the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Nasasra, located in the Negev . The village warmly welcomed a large group of Israeli and international visitors to a meeting organized through the Israeli organization, the Association of Forty, which represents those living in unrecognized villages, working to get recognition for them on a local and international basis.

Ushered into a large, empty building, the Israelis and internationals sat on mats covering the floor. Once coffee and tea were handed out, some of the locals spoke to the crowd about what their village has been through and what they are facing. The speeches were in Hebrew, but an English translator was on hand for those who needed it.

“The villages have been here since before Israel was established. In the year 1980 there was an agreement with Egypt , because of the Egypt (agreement) the land got confiscated,” said Youssef, a village resident who is also an attorney and head of the local committee.

They were issued eviction orders because the Israeli government wants to build a facility to serve the military on the land where the village of al-Nasasra is located.

 If and when the demolition of this village takes place, 250 people will lose their homes. The villagers have been offered a fraction of what they should—roughly 1000 shekels for land that has a value of 80, 000 shekels. Asked what he predicts will happen. Youssef stated, “What I expect from the state of Israel is to recognize us, to treat us like its own citizens, its equal citizens, with all that that means.”

A local woman, who gave her name as Sausan, invited some of the visitors into her home, where she lives with her husband and three small children. The Israeli authorities recently issued the family an eviction order; now they fear for their future. She tells us, through a translator, “We have no where to go and every time we go to the administration to ask ‘let us stay here because we have no where to go. We have no other place.’ They don’t want to listen, they say ‘it’s a government decision, you have to go away. It’s not a problem for us, we don’t care where you are going, but you must go’.” Sausan then gave a tour of her house to show us the Bedouin are not as different as they may be perceived. Indeed, the home was not unlike those in Europe or North America .

Before it was time for the group to leave, the town members sat everyone back inside a large building, and food was served. An abundant amount of food was provided on large platters, rice with chicken and vegetables were spread throughout the room. For a village with so little, they were incredibly generous.

The group then boarded buses and waved goodbye to a village that may not be around for future visits.   

Not too far away from al Nasasra is the village of Twail Abu Jarwal . The homes are sparse and comprised mainly of tents. The village was demolished for the fifth time on 7 March 2007. There stands the structure of what is to be a small house built out of wood. Around this structure, a small group of residents gathered, ranging in age from very old to very young.

Two local men spoke for the village; the first man giving an overview of Twali Abu Jarwal’s history. “About three or four years after the creation of the state of Israel we were forced away from here. We were put in another place. We were told that we vacate this place for several months and then we can come back. This was fifty years ago and they did not keep their promise. Until we took the initiative and some of us came back here about seven years ago and since then, as you see, (the Israeli military) come all the time and demolish. Last year, already, six times,” stated the local man, speaking in Hebrew with translation from one of the Association of Forty members. “They just come and destroy and go away, and they wait until we build again and they come again and destroy.” The man says some demolition orders are given, but when the Israeli military comes to destroy, all houses are torn down, even those over which on orders were issued.

The council of unrecognized villages offers help when they can, providing materials to rebuild the houses and tents for the residents to live in when their houses are destroyed.

Recently the military has come and destroyed the homes as well as confiscated all their raw materials that may be used to try to rebuild. Another member of the village, an older looking man in a grey shirt, steps in. He appears frustrated and gestures vigorously while addressing the group, “The Ministry of the Interior said ‘in the Bedouin sector there are 42,000 illegal houses and we are going to destroy all of them’. But when we ask them ‘what is the solution’? They say, ‘no, there is no solution’…We don’t oppose settlers in the Negev , but not at our expense. We want to be treated like everybody else.”

“This state is saying it’s a democratic state. They don’t give me water. …People, they look for a computer for their children; I look for water for my children.”

The locals express a strong desire to have land that is considered their own by law and to build their homes legally. Many of the villagers are angered by the situation, as their ownership of the land is recognized only when they are willing to sell it, but they say, if they want to live on the land, it is confiscated. They also express concern that Bedouin society is deteriorating due to Israeli state policies.

The Bedouin who live in these villages understand that they are being portrayed badly in the media and feel they are misunderstood. They say they want what is afforded to most people, decent living conditions, education and a permanent place of residence.

The Bedouin here also express a desire for more Israelis and internationals to visit them, in order to better understand the situation. They struggle not only for their rights, but also for public opinion.