Under conditions set by Shaked: The government approved the establishment of 3 Bedouin settlements

November 3, 2021   

The government approved this morning (Wednesday) the establishment of three rural Bedouin settlements, with the aim of consolidating the Bedouin diaspora into permanent settlements - and thus returning state lands to their hands. Home Front Command in a major exercise: Are you ready for an emergency? This is how you will do it Alarming: 751% of those who died from the coronavirus under the age of 60 were not vaccinated Employers can receive a financial incentive of up to NIS 22,250. How? Enter Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked reached an agreement with the Labor Party, according to which the decision to establish the settlements includes the obligation to consent of a minimum of 70% of the diaspora residents in the area. They will commit by signature that they will leave the lands and move to live in one of the three settlements to be established. It was also determined that the scope of the settlements will be demarcated, and their establishment will be conditional on the determination of an outline by a team headed by the chairman of the National Planning Headquarters, which includes the director general of the Prime Minister's Office and the director general of the Ministry of Housing, within the framework of which they will determine instructions that will ensure the transfer of at least 70 percent of the diaspora residents. It should be noted that 70% is the minimum, and the team is entitled to a higher transfer obligation. If within seven years the Bedouin diaspora does not converge into the settlements, the decision to establish the settlements will be canceled. The team that will be established will also address the instructions regarding the cancellation of a plan in the event that the diaspora does not converge and the settlement is established within 7 years. The Regavim movement supports the government's decision: "Despite heavy pressure from the RAAM to change the wording of the government's decision - the proposed resolution that was accepted is almost completely identical to the proposal put forward by the previous government led by Netanyahu. The agreed-upon wording was formulated following the Regavim movement's staff work with Minister Shaked's office over the past few months." Meir Deutsch, CEO of the Regavim movement: "What we said then is also true today: the aforementioned government's decision is an opportunity alongside a risk. On the one hand, it is an opportunity to change the face of the Negev, return land to the hands of the State of Israel, and begin gathering the Bedouin diaspora from the open areas in the Negev into the legal settlements, instead of a fictitious expansion of the existing settlements over and over again, as has been the practice over the past decade. The new government's decision sets conditions for the evacuation of the diaspora to permanent settlements within a set period of time, and if these conditions are not met - the establishment of the settlements will be canceled. "On the other hand, the burden of proof is on the government. To date, Israeli governments have known how to give the carrots but have avoided enforcing the sticks. This plan is also built of sticks and carrots, and the government must prove that it intends to implement the move to the end, including the evacuation of the Diaspora and the return of the lands to the state, and not to continue the inappropriate policy of expanding the areas given to the Bedouin sector." Deutsch added: "If the government plan is implemented in full, with its sticks and carrots, it will be a chance for the Negev to march towards a better future, and for the return of lands to the state." The Young Settlement Forum responded: "This is a sad day for the State of Israel. Ministers who pledged to represent the national camp in the government and who only a year ago stood in the breach and prevented the regularization of the Bedouin settlements until the young settlement was regularized, today abandoned thousands of families who are acting on behalf of the state. The young settlement will not remain silent and will not forgive. In the coming days, we will once again embark on a broad public struggle and demand from the ministers and members of Knesset: Keep your promise. Regularize the young settlement now." Religious Zionists attacked the government's approval for the establishment of Bedouin settlements in the Negev. "Establishment of settlements for the Bedouins, the electricity law, billions for the Islamic movement and the young settlement is still waiting for the first government meeting. Oh, shame.".