Israel govt seeks ‘compromise’ after Bedouin unrest

Israel govt seeks ‘compromise’ after Bedouin unrest

on January 13, 2022

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Israeli forces stand guard as Bedouins protest in the southern Israeli village of Sa’we al-Atrash in the Neguev Desert against an afforestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. – Israel’s government today sought to ease tensions with Bedouins over a controversial tree-planting project in the Negev desert, following days of unrest that marked the latest test for the fragile coalition (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

ISRAEL (AFP) – Israel’s government on Wednesday sought to ease tensions with Bedouin over a tree-planting project in the Negev desert, where unrest has continued for days in the latest test for a fragile coalition.

About 200 Bedouin protesters in southern Israel’s arid Negev desert on Wednesday clashed with security officers, who tried to disperse them with stun grenades, an AFP journalist said.

“Sixteen suspects who threw stones at the police have been arrested and are being questioned,” police said in a statement, adding that five officers were slightly injured.

Israeli police detain a man as Bedouins protest in the southern Israeli village of Sa’we al-Atrash in the Neguev Desert against an afforestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. – Israel’s government today sought to ease tensions with Bedouins over a controversial tree-planting project in the Negev desert, following days of unrest that marked the latest test for the fragile coalition (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Bedouin, who are part of Israel’s 20 percent Arab minority, have long opposed tree-planting initiatives in the Negev, blasting them as a de facto government land grab in areas they call home.

The latest unrest in the decades-long dispute has attracted fresh attention given the make-up of Israel’s coalition government, led by right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Bennett’s government counts on backing from the leader of the Islamist Raam party, Mansour Abbas, whose core political support comes from Bedouin in the Negev.

Abbas told Israel’s Channel 12 news on Tuesday that his party will not vote with the coalition unless the tree planting is halted and formal negotiations with Bedouin leaders are launched to seek a compromise.

“Trees are not more important than human beings,” Abbas tweeted.

Bedouins protest in the southern Israeli village of Sa’we al-Atrash in the Neguev Desert against an afforestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. – Israel’s government today sought to ease tensions with Bedouins over a controversial tree-planting project in the Negev desert, following days of unrest that marked the latest test for the fragile coalition (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP)

A statement from Social Affairs Minister Meir Cohen said “a compromise has been reached according to which the planting work will be completed today (Wednesday) as planned and starting tomorrow, accelerated negotiations will take place.”

The right-wing Regavim environmental civil society group called on Bennett’s government “to take a firm position against the Raam Party’s threats, to ensure that tree planting projects… are carried out as planned.”

Israeli police forces are deployed as Bedouins protest in the southern Israeli village of Sa’we al-Atrash in the Neguev Desert against an afforestation project by the Jewish National Fund (JNF), on January 12, 2022. – Israel’s government today sought to ease tensions with Bedouins over a controversial tree-planting project in the Negev desert, following days of unrest that marked the latest test for the fragile coalition (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

But clashes resumed in the evening in several locations in the Negev, with more arrests made, police said.

Nearly half of Israel’s 300,000 Bedouin live in unrecognised villages in the Negev.

They face regular home demolitions and lack of access to basic services — including electricity, water and sanitation — challenges Abbas insisted be addressed in exchange for backing Bennett’s government.

© Agence France-Presse