(Times of Israel) Ben-Dror Yemini - A new propaganda film portrays Bedouins in Israel as the victims of a terrible expulsion decree by the government. The debate over the proper procedure of the settlement of the nomadic Bedouins is important and the state decided on a generous arrangement. Every Bedouin family is entitled to a plot of land in one of the Bedouin towns built in the region where they live, and there are plans for the construction of many more towns. This is affirmative action favoring the Bedouins, as no Jew is entitled to receive free land. The film charges: "The Bedouin community of Umm al-Hiran is slated to be turned into Hiran, a community for Jews only." In fact, when Hiran was being planned, there were only a few Bedouins there, if any. Their move to Umm al-Hiran occurred mainly in the wake of the plans for the new town. Aerial photographs prove this. Moreover, adjacent to the compound of the Al-Qian tribe, whose members are the focus of the current fuss, the state built Hura, a proper Bedouin village, with paved roads, electricity and water infrastructure. Most of the tribe - 3,000 of the 4,000 members - felt this was a fair arrangement, and moved to Hura. Furthermore, Hiran is not designated only for Jews, and any Bedouin who wishes to buy land there is entitled to do so.
2013-12-02 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive