Israel Land Administration officials arrive at unrecognized village of al-Arakib with police escort, flatten it. ‘If needed, we will also demolish during Ramadan,’ say officials, but residents promise to continue rebuilding

Ilana Curiel

Just before the start of Ramadan, an unrecognized Bedouin village has been demolished for the third time. The Israel Land Administration demolished some 21 building frames in the village of al-Arakib on Tuesday. The Land Administration officials arrived with a police detail that included the Border Guard and cavalrymen.  

The village has already beenUnited Arab List-Ta’al), who arrived on the site. “They found a solution for the people in Gush Katif – here no. Jews do worse things to Bedouins that what was done to them by other peoples throughout history.”

‘How will I continue my studies?’

Maryam Abu-Midyam, a 20-year-old student of history at the Open University, protested, “I don’t know how I will continue studying. They demolished, and we will build every week anew.”

Maryam’s father, Salim, said that he will fight until a solution is found for the residents. “I will not leave this place,” he said.

“It has become routine,” said Ilan Jan, from the Israel Land Administration. “It is a test of their spirits. We are doing our job, and we will soon file claims against residents of the site for the costs of evacuation.”

Another Land Administration official in charge of oversight said, “This is State land, set aside for Bedouin grazing pastures. If we need to demolish on Ramada, we will demolish on Ramadan, but we are trying to show sensitivity. The Al-Turi clan continues to insist on remaining on the site, but we will not capitulate to them.”

During the demolition operation, two left-wing activists were detained for disrupting police officers on duty. Three other activists were arrested on Monday during an anti-demolition protest at Lehavim junction on suspicions that they attacked policemen.