Authorities are determined to demolish an unrecognized Bedouin village in The Negev – residents of the Bedouin village al-Arakib rebuilt their houses four times, after they were razed by The Israel Land Administration.
On Sunday night, a day after the conclusion of Eid al-Fitr, the village was razed once again. However, as soon as Land Administration members and police officers left the scene, the residents promptly began the reconstruction work.
The village was demolished for the fourth time at the beginning of the month of Ramadan, but as in previous instances, it was immediately rebuild.
Member of Knesset Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) said "the demolition operations lead to unrest and disobedience in the Arab sector in general, and the Negev in particular. We are victims of the State of Israel."
El-Sana vowed the demolished village would be reconstructed, adding that "the only solution is recognition, not displacement; issuing building permits, not demolition."
Bedouin rights activist Haya Noah noted the demolitions were "a routine procedure. Dozens of police officers arrived, followed by bulldozers. They razed all the houses. They ruined everything we built and left nothing. It's a big disgrace."
Officials at The Israel Land Administration stressed that the demolitions were carried our legally and according to a court order that determined the residents invaded an area that were not theirs, and did not act in good faith.
The police claim they were taking measures to charge the residents of al-Arakib with demolition expenses, which were incurred by State and estimated at millions of shekels.
Police officials said they were cooperating with the southern district prosecutor and planned to take civil action against the residents.
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