Bedouin villagers demonstrate against house demolitions
Rally follows last week’s riots in Bir Hadaj, after which 10 protesters were detained
Some 2,000 residents of the southern Bedouin village Bir Hadaj demonstrated on Thursday morning outside government offices in Beersheba, protesting a government policy of demolishing homes in the village.
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Last week, riot police were called into Bir Hadaj to respond to demonstrations inside the village. On Wednesday, 10 residents were detained for creating a public disturbance. Five of those detained were arrested.
Bir Hadaj is not of the seven Bedouin cities established and approved by the Israeli government. It is estimated that of the 250,000 Bedouins living in Israel, approximately half live in some 45 unrecognized villages. Israeli authorities maintain the right to demolish buildings built without permits in the unrecognized villages.
The Times of Israel Community.