Bedouin Society in the Shadow of the War Conference

The conference organized by Nagabiya: Bedouin Society Knowledge and Research Center (Nagabiya Center)¹ in partnership with Ben-Gurion University was held on July 08 in Be’er Sheva. It focused on the challenges facing Bedouin society in the aftermath of the Oct 07 events, emphasizing critical issues from the Center’s research findings, including war’s impact on employment, financial security, and safety in Negev’s Bedouin communities.

The conference featured three key sessions: a presentation on the war’s impact on Bedouin society and post-war employment challenges by Dr. Manal Harib. This was followed by a discussion on governmental and civil responses during crises moderated by Mr. Nati Yefet, Director of Communications for the Unrecognized Villages Council. The event concluded with Professor Sarah Helman leading a session titled “What Now?”, with panelists including Prof. Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Ben-Gurion University, and Sliman Al-Amour, Co-CEO at AJEEC-NISPED, focusing on future strategies and integration efforts.

The research, conducted by the Center in November 2023, shows that about 75% of respondents expressed a loss of security and heightened sense of vulnerability within the community. Moreover, nearly 70% of Bedouin residents in the Negev lack access to proper shelters, with the most acute shortages in unrecognized villages. 92% of the residents of the unrecognized villages reported that they could not reach a protected space in time to avoid possible injury during rocket fire.

Another survey conducted by regional authorities further highlighted a pressing need for approximately NIS 500 million to enhance sheltering infrastructure for the Bedouin population in the Negev. However, obstacles in obtaining building permits continue to pose substantial barriers in addressing these needs.

Dr. Manal Hreib, a lead researcher at the Negebiya Center, emphasized the disproportionate impact of the conflict on financial security of vulnerable segments of the Bedouin society. 23% of respondents reported a loss of livelihood due to the war, pushing a significant portion of Bedouin society deeper into poverty. Dr. Hreib noted that residents of unrecognized villages, non-academics, and women with lower educational attainment were among the hardest hit by the economic and social ramifications of the conflict.

During a panel discussion, Bedouin women activists, Amirah Abu Haduvah from Kvar Abu Tlul and Salima Sgaira from Rahma shared their experiences and initiatives in unrecognized villages during the war. Part of a Jewish-Arab Relief Center in Rahat, which received the President’s Award for Volunteerism in 2024, they organized and distributed essential supplies, including food baskets. Currently, these women are working to organize a joint Jewish and Bedouin women’s festival in the Negev, promoting solidarity and cultural exchange.

Rahat Mayor Talal Alkernawi addressed the broader implications for Jewish-Bedouin relations in the Negev. He highlighted the necessity of inclusive government policies, expressing concern that current recovery plans, such as the Tkuma Program, do not include the Bedouin society and could potentially widen socio-economic gaps between Jewish and Arab communities in the region.

Despite the conference’s importance and its role in fostering dialogue and awareness, it was not without controversy. Right-wing student protests at Ben-Gurion University called for the conference’s cancellation, leading to the absence of government representatives invited to participate, including those from the Home Front Command.

Over the years, the Bedouin communities in the Negev have consistently topped national statistics for poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing and access to infrastructure, and frequent home demolitions. The ongoing war intensifies the profound distress experienced by the vulnerable population.

¹ Established by the Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality (NCF).