Lobna Sana and Yeela Raanan in conversation with R’ David Cooper. The RCUV works to address the significant challenges facing the Bedouin population in the Negev from the unrecognized villages, advocating for their rights and needs. They have helped shape a master plan for the remaining unrecognized villages, ensuring these plans reflect the cultural and societal needs of the communities. Beyond advocacy, the council steps in to provide essential services, from establishing kindergartens to distributing food stamps, demonstrating their deep commitment to the wellbeing of the Bedouin communities.
The Negev is home to approximately 300,000 Arabs, making up around 40% of the region’s population. Despite their numbers, the land they occupy is disproportionately small, with nearly half of these residents living in unrecognized villages that span just 3.5% of the Negev’s vast area. Central to their struggle is a mere 1.5% of the total land in the Negev, a critical point of contention that has deep implications for these communities.
For more information, contact: Facetoface@kehillasynagogue.