The Negev region is home to nearly 300,000 Bedouins, around half of whom live in unrecognised villages. This territory constitutes 2.7% of the total area of the Negev.

Definition: Unrecognised Villages:

The government does not recognise these villages, making them illegal. Therefore, residents cannot receive building eprmits, face the threat of demolitions, and fail to benefit from essential services such as water systems, electricity, roads and more.

We are harnessing momentum in the Negev to address these inequalities and create lasting, positive change for the area’s marginalised communities.

Last year, at the outset of the war, NIF and partners provided water tanks, food, first-aid kits, and educational materials to residents of these villages, and compelled the state to recognise all villages as “populated”, which provided them with sirens, life-saving coverage under the Iron Dome, and funding for 52 new bomb shelters. 

This year, we will work with our grantees – Bimkom: Planners for Planning Rights, the Regional Council for Unrecognised Villages and Bedouin community leaders to:

• Secure full government recognition to provide Bedouin villages with essential services, increased access to education and healthcare, and build a sense of security.  
• Lead the fight against the demolition of Bedouin villages by the current government.
• Continue to upskill leaders, seed fund Bedouin-led initiatives, and bring charities together to work collaboratively in NIF-led forums.

Bedouin victims of 7 October 
 
The dramatic return to Israel of Farhan Al-Qadi who had been abducted by Hamas and was found by Israeli forces in a tunnel in southern Gaza, also brought the needs of the Bedouin community into the mainstream media discussion in Israel and internationally. 
 
The entire Bedouin community living near Gaza was deeply impacted by October 7. At least 17 were killed on that day, and eight (including al-Qadi) were taken to Gaza. Other members of the community demonstrated remarkable heroism in saving their fellow Israelis. One of those stories is documented in the video below: