Negev Coexistence Forum for Civil Equality
פורום דו-קיום בנגב לשוויון אזרחי
منتدى التعايش السلمي في النقب من أجل المساواة المدنية

Every year, the Israel Land Administration destroys thousands of dunams of wheat and barley crops in the fields that have belonged to Bedouin families for generations. This is done with the claim that the lands are state-owned, after being illegally confiscated in the 1950’s, and without sorting their claims to ownership of the land at the lands ownership regulation bureau.

 Since May 2006 until the present, the dwellings of 25 families of the Al Talalqa tribe in the village of Twyil Abu Jarwal have been demolished twelve times under the orders of the Israel Land Administration and the Ministry of the Interior. The authorities demolished, and the inhabitants returned and built new dwellings on their own lands. Recently houses and sheep-sheds have been demolished once again, on Wednesday, December 12th.

The Al Talalqa tribe have lived on their lands and tended them for many generations. In November 1951 the army ordered them to move to the Hura area, about 20 km. to the east, on “grounds of security”. The tribe was promised it would be able to return to its lands but this promise has never been fulfilled. In 1953, the Law of Lands Purchasing was passed, enabling the State to confiscate uninhabited land. Since the Al Talalqa had been transferred from their tribal seat, their land at Twyil Abu Jarwal was confiscated too, and registered as belonging to the Development Authority.

 The tribe now lives in Hura, Rahat and Lakia. In Lakia they suffer from harsh living conditions and over-crowding. Over the years, some of the Al Talalqa families have returned to their lands in Twyil Abu Jarwal. For the past 18 months, the authorities opened “war” against the village and demolished time and a gain, forcing men, women and children to live in the open both summer and winter. Not only do the authorities deny the Al Talalqa any alternative solutions – they even reject the compromise proposals offered by the tribe representatives.

 The public is invited to come and take part in the sowing.

The activity is also planned for children. Please bring your own water and light meal.

At the end of our activity we shall vsit the Twyil Abu Jarwal village where dwellings have been demolished, and hear explanations about the state of the community and the events of the past several months.

 Transportation from Tel Aviv: Arlozorov train station (El Al terminal sidewalk) 8:15 a.m.

 Transportation  from Jerusalem: Liberty Bell Park (Gan Hapa’amon) 8 a.m. please call Eyal Niv 052-4585055 or ICAHD 02-6245560

Meeting point in the Negev: Goral Junction – north-east corner (after the bridge), 10 a.m. 0524269011

In case the Israel Land Administration attempts to prevent the activity, a protest rally will take place there.