Sir, – Eamonn McCann “Space for everyone in the history of the Negev – except the Bedouin” (Opinion, December 5th) launched a diatribe against Israel, based on inaccuracy and falsehood. As a Bedouin (and an Israeli diplomat), I think I understand the issue somewhat better than Mr McCann.
We, Bedouins, originally are a tribal, shepherding and nomadic people, with unique family ties and set of values, who began a process of modernisation 100 years ago, before Israel was established. Today, there are two main Bedouin communities in Israel: the first, comprising approximately 200,000 people, live in the Negev desert, southern Israel. The second, around 45,000, live in the Galilee, Northern Israel. While the northern community is considered more organised, educated and settled, and better integrated into Israeli modern society, the Negev community is still going through tough transition from being a conservative one, where getting along with the building of modern Israel is a main challenge, a process that takes a long way.
Since Israel was established 65 years ago, various Israeli governments have attempted to help the Bedouins adopt a modern lifestyle, providing free education, infrastructure, medical care and more. But the combination of lack of development (industry and infrastructure) in the Negev by government authorities, and the community’s tribal structure (and high birth rate), has led over the years to the need for an urgent (socio-economic) development plan, in order to regulate the settlement of the Bedouin community. To be successful, this requires a full dialogue between the community leadership and the government. Was this done perfectly? No. Is it equal to those in Jewish towns? Probably not. But in the given circumstances, I think it’s the best that can be achieved.
The main complaint of the community isn't land ownership (Bedouins' nomadic lifestyle didn't allow land ownership!), but rather the issue of the settlement process of about 90,000 Bedouins who live in "unrecognised" villages.The government is offering to establish regulated villages for 60,000, in their current locations, and the rest, 30,000, will need to relocate to the nearby organised new villages, with access to better infrastructure and municipal services. This is not to "cleanse the Bedouin from the Negev"; as Mr McCann says. Mr McCann also refers to Israeli people in general – not just those in the West Bank – as "settlers" which implies the complete illegitimacy of the Israeli state altogether.
Lastly, on a personal note, until I was eight years old, the Bedouins in my Galilee community lived in tents. Now, most Bedouins are living in concrete homes, attending college, holding positions in government, and more. – Yours, etc,
ISHMAEL KHALDI,
Counsellor for Civil Society
Affairs, Embassy of Israel,
Palace Green, London,
England.