‘The Negev is a Powderkeg’

Arutz Sheva ^ | 3/12/13 | Maayana Miskin

[Eleutheria5]

The socio-economic gap between Jews and Bedouin has turned the Negev into “a powderkeg,” warned Sigal Moran, head of the Bnei Shimon regional council in the Negev, in an interview with Arutz Sheva.

Moran suggested that the government start with the “carrot” of improved living conditions in authorized, planned cities before moving to the “stick” of destroying illegal encampments.

“Let them improve the quality of life in the towns first… Then they can talk about evacuating unauthorized settlement,” she said.

The government is planning to implement the “Prawer plan,” which will authorize many illegal Bedouin towns and expand existing Bedouin cities, but will also evacuate several illegal towns. Several Arab and Bedouin groups have denounced the plan as racist and have joined “Day of Rage” events in protest; the Islamic Movement in particular has denounced Israel as “fascist” over the proposal.

Moran warned that poverty in Bedouin towns is a huge issue. “The gap today is unthinkable. On the socio-economic scale they’re at ‘1,’ we’re at ‘6.’ Their children look at our children, and it doesn’t exactly make them like us,” she said.

“The gap creates hatred. It’s a powderkeg,” she declared.

.....

[Eleutheria5]

The onus is all on us. We have to lift them out of poverty, and regain their trust. They can go on stealing livestock and land, and being economic throwbacks. Try this, take the Bedouins living in illegal settlements, and move them to a nice, broad open space, such as they used to be accustomed to, say in Libya or Saharan Egypt or the Sinai. Then there won't be an economic gap with Jews, because they won't be near any, and they'll be able to steal each others' livestock and feud over it, as they have for millenia. I say this in the utmost goodwill towards Bedouins. They are overcrowded, and have no space in Israel. It's bad for everyone.

[NormsRevenge]

‘Bussing’ Negev Style..

some win, all lose..

It’s not like they’re gypsies

or hippies..

[Zhang Fei]

If the article is accurate on the facts, this seems like the kind of basic infrastructure issue the Israeli government needed to have addressed a while ago. Sure, the Israeli government looks good compared to its Arab counterparts. But Israel’s supposed to be a Western country. By all means, smite the terrorists hand and foot. But treating Israeli Bedouin Arabs well in terms of providing basic governmental functions might help sow some goodwill. Especially since there are Bedouin units in the IDF. From the article:

---

The Bedouin community in the Negev has the highest unemployment rate and highest poverty rate in Israel, with roughly 66% living under the poverty line. The situation is worse in unauthorized encampments, which often have no services such as schools or even electricity; the poverty rate in the encampments is nearly 80%, and the school dropout rate is roughly 32%.

Studies over the past decade have indicated that much of the difference is due to a simple lack of physical access; for example, towns built far from existing roads make commuting to school or work highly difficult.

---

[2harddrive]

Why can’t Israel just parachute all the Palestinians deep into Egypt, and be done with the problem.

[Eleutheria5]

Gypsies, for that matter, are similar to Bedouins. They are both nomads of a sort, and are living in a different century. They both ought to be dealt with in a humane way, and keeping them cooped up in towns is not humane, nor practical.

[Eleutheria5]

Palestinians are not Bedouins and vice versa.

[Jewbacca]

“Why can’t Israel just parachute all the Palestinians deep into Egypt, and be done with the problem.”

These are not the so-called Palestinians, but rather Bedouins, and actually more-or-less natives, unlike the arab immigrants who now call themselves Palestinians.

Bedouins bother me, in that I grew up in Gush Katif, and they were generally very good people. I went to elementary school with them, and many came to my marriage. Many (although not most) serve in the IDF.

I think they’ve become dependent on government handouts and become useless, just like every other government-dependent people.

[Jewbacca]

The problem with providing infrastructure is Bedouins are, by definition, nomadic.

The problem is the world has passed the nomadic way of life up.

I don’t see many Comanche following the buffalo across Oklahoma, Texas, and Arizona lately. Apparently highways and fences are rough on nomadic herds.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Sounds like a threat of give them more money or they’ll kill us!

[Jack Hydrazine]

But they are both Muzzy Arabs.

[GladesGuru]

Some Bedouin were pastoralists who followed their camels and the seasonal grass/forage upon which their camels depended. This group was primarily involved in trade and kept few small livestock.

Bedouin in the Egyptian desert kept some small livestock and also had areas where communities existed. Once Bedouin are settled in areas too small to support their herds, other means of livelihood must be found.

However, such change means cultural change as well. Change induces stress, something Israel can do without.

Perhaps these cultural changes could be turned to advantage - what if the Bedouin paid for an ad campaign stressing the fact that Palisimians are good to eat and can be hunted from camelback. Thebideau and Boudereau might decide to bring some seasoning and go hunting Palisimians. Even if the Cajuns decided there IS something their seasonings can't make palatable, Muslim Terrorists would pay for the hearts, as both the Koran states, and recent Koranimal behavior demonstrated.

The Bedouin get paid for renting camels and everyone in the Mideast will breath more easily when the Palisimian population is reduced.

Give cannibalism a chance.

[Axenolith]

Highways and fences didn’t get rid of the Buffalo, killing them off in job lots to starve out the Indians did it...

[Jewbacca]

Only in liberal textbooks.

[Axenolith]

No, in reality.

“The civilization of the Indian is impossible while the buffalo remains upon the plains. I would not seriously regret the total disappearance of the buffalo from our western prairies, in its effect upon the Indians, regarding it as a means of hastening their sense of dependence upon the products of the soil and their own labors.”

That’s Columbus Delano, Interior secretary at the time. (Probably an FDR ancestor at that).

Granted that’s a state puke looking to make sure some pretty damned independant people become dependant upon the state...

[elcid1970]

Ooooo - you are sooooooo bad!

Never thought I’d see ol’ Boudreaux & Thibodoux connected with the Palis; those two can make alligator palatable but even Cajun seasoning has its limits.

Meanwhile cue up the Monty Python “cannibalism” sketch (”What do you think the Argyles ate at Aden? Arabs!!!??”)

;^)

[Impy]

“Day of Rage”

That’s every day for Mohomeddians.

[Lurker]

I suggest napalm strikes.

[Eleutheria5]

The Bedouins would prefer to go out in the dessert to give their camels an extra hump, and mind their own business. That works for me. I say, let’s help them.

[Jack Hydrazine]

There is plenty of room for the Bedouins to roam on the Saudi Arabian peninsula.

Israel is about 8,000+ sq. miles vs. Saudi Arabia which is over 100 times the size.

And they’ll feel right at home on the unholy homeland of Islam.

[Eleutheria5]

Minister Tawil Fadiha’s idea to boost revenues. A bake sale wouldn’t work, because Arabian baked confections taste like camel poop. Bingo wouldn’t work, because the letters have to be connected in Arabic and there are no vowels. Taxes wouldn’t work, because they’ve already shaken down the bribepayers for every spare agara they have. If they start demanding taxes on top of that, there will be a revolution. So that left Day of Rage, a natural for the Minister of Uncontrollable Anger. Throw rocks and firebombs (as usual) but demand that Israel and the International Community fork over more cash.