INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory September 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................1 1. BEDOUINS AND THE CHALLENGES TO THEIR LIVELIHOODS IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTIN- IAN TERRITORY..................................................................................................................................................3 2. MEASURES OF COOPERATION WITH THE BEDOUIN COMMUNITY..........................................11 2.1. POLITICAL REPRESENTATION...................................................................................................12 2.2. EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS.....................................................................................................16 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................................19 INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 1 INTRODUCTION This brief outlines the living conditions of Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian terri- tory (oPt) and it identifies measures of UNDP cooperation with the Bedouin commu- nity. Moreover, it suggests points for advoting a shared understanding of the needs of Bedouins. The basic premise is to give a development outlook and complement humanitarian in- terventions in Area ‘C’. This is done by delineating UNDP engagement with a focus on basic right claims and attainable measures of political representation and employment opportunities. The objective is to assist Bedouins maintain their livelihoods, land, and ensure services/access to commodities in light of the challenges they face as a result of the protracted occupation. PHOTO: UNDP archive, Steve Sabella INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 2 1. Bedouins and the challenges to their livelihood in the occupied Palestinian territory n order to designate targeted measures of support, a basic understanding of the living I conditions of Bedouins in the oPt – and specifically in Area ‘C’ – is integral. It is important to acknowledge that the situation is precarious and the information about Bedouin communities and their living conditions is contingent. The available aggregate information has thus to be seen as an approximation that needs to be substantiated with reference to individual exam- ples and cases in order to trace how the current situation endangers the Bedouins, their customs, and survival as a cultural group. Most Bedouins in the oPt are originally from the Negev Desert. In the course of 1948, they fled or were displaced from their land. PHOTO: UNDP archive, Sharek Youth Forum There are currently around 40,000 Bedou- ins in the oPt, most of which are refugees Most Bedouins in the oPt and displaced indigenous tribes that settled in areas suitable for their lifestyle around Je- are originally from the Negev rusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jericho. Desert. In the course of 1948, Bedouins are tribal-based semi-nomadic they fled or were displaced people that complement their herding ac- from their land. tivities with agricultural practices. This means that Bedouins have a strong sense of being land owners for settlement and agriculture. As for other indigenous groups, land – especially their original lands in the Negev – is central to Bedouin history, livelihood and culture and is essential to their identity and cultural viability. The social structure of Bedouin communi- ties comprises three large confederations: Al Tayaha, al Azazmeh, and al Tarabeen, SOURCE: UNDP/ PAPP to which a number of 92 tribes are linked. While the majority of the tribes are in Jor- dan, major tribes in the West Bank are: the Jahaleen, Ka’abneh, Rashaydeh, Ram- adeen, ‘Azazme, Communities of Sawarka, Arenat and Amareen. Bedouins’ forced transfer during the last decade INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 3 The Bedouin tribes: Jahaleen Ka’abneh Rashaydeh In the center and south of the are located near the Jordan Val- settle mainly to the southeast West Bank, around 22 ley, in places such as Anata, Jaba’, of Bethlehem and in Ayn Duy- Jahaleen families are living Al Jeeb and Bir Nibala. ouk and Ayn Al Sultan north- in Khan al Ahmar in east of east of Jericho. Jerusalem. ‘Azazme Communities Ramadeen (to which Hanajreh are linked) from the land south of He- currently living mainly in the of Sawarka, Arenat bron and in the Qalqilya seam Masafer Beni Naim, south-east and Amareen (to which zone. of Hebron. Ejbaraat are linked) are found in small numbers only, with larger groups in Jordan, Sinai or Gaza. Jericho: Ramallah: (1) Marj Na’ja (18) Deir Nidham Al-Hossa (2) Az-Zubeidat (19) Kobar Bedouins (3) Marj Na’ja Herders (20) Ein Qiniya Wadi Dululm (4) Al-Jiftik Al-Mussaffah (21) Wadi Salman (5) Al-Jiftik Al-Shumeh (22) Ras Al-Tin (6) Al-Jiftik Garb Al- (23) Ein Samiya Mthalla (24) Dar Faza’a (7) Al-Jiftik Abu Al’ajaj (25) Wai Al-Seeq (8) Fasayil Al-Fauqa (26) Khalet Al-Maghara (9) Fasayil (27) Maghayer Al-Dir (10) Faysil Al-Wusta (28) Al-Baqa’a (11) Ras Ein Al-Auja (29) Mu’arrajat center (12) Ein Ad-Duyuk Al- Fauqa Bedo Jerusalem: (13) An-Nuwe’ma Al (30) Musarat Fauqa Bedoui (31) Beit Hanina Bedouins (14) Wadi Al-Qilt (32) Beit Nabala Bedouins (15) Wadi Al-Qilt Al- (33) Al-Jib Bedouins Ka’abneh (34) Um Al-Awaj (16) Sateh Al-Bahr (35) Abu Shusha Bedouins (17) An-Nabi Musa (36) Ma’azi Jaba’ (37) Atarot Bedouins Hebron: (38) Dahyiet Al-Aqbat (48) Hitta (39) East Anata Bedouins (49) Jala (40) Abu Nwar (50) Ferra’ (41) Um Al-Asawiji (51) Kirbet Bisam (52) Birin (53) Al-Buweib (64) Manitqa Sh’b Al- (54) Um Ad Daraj Bethlehem: Butum (55) Khallet Hajar Taha (42) Jubbet Ad- (65) As-Sirniya (56) Washem Al-Karem Dhib (66) Imneizil (43) Zatara Al- (67) Jinba (57) An Najada Kurshan (68) Mirkez (58) Al-Jwaya (44) Kisan (69) A-Seefer (59) At-Tuwani (45) Arab Ar- (70) Wadadie (60) Tuba Rashayida DESIGNED: UNDP, SOURCE: ACF international (71) Khirbet Zanuta (61) Dhaika (46) Al-Walayda (72) Ar-Ramadin (62) Khirbet Al-Tabban (47) Ar-Rawa’in (73) Um Sidra (63) Khirbet Al-Majaz (74) Tatrit (75) Deir Sa’eeda INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 4 SOURCE: OCHA There are around 5,000 There are around Moreover, the Israeli settler Bedouin families in the oPt retain control over all build- as well as 5,000 Bedouin and 5,000 Bedouin fami- ing and planning in Area ‘C’, herder families. The distinc- leaving the Palestinian Au- tion between Bedouin and lies in the oPt. Around thority (PA) with marginal non-Bedouin herder is fluid 27,500 herders, half of but the latter are traditionally responsibility over health linked to Palestinian villages. which are Bedouins are and education services. As a direct consequence, Pales- Around 3,000 Bedouin fami- living in Area C. tinians in Area ‘C’ lack condi- lies are living in refugee tions for sustainable devel- camps, but many do not reg- opment. completely closed military zones, fac- ister at the UNRWA, hinting The space for their human ing danger of forced expulsion. The towards a higher number of development opportuni- Bedouin refugees. living conditions of Palestinians in ties is very narrow. They Area ‘C’ and Bedouins in particular are suffer from restrictions on Around 27,500 herders, half of hard hit by the occupation-regime. which are Bedouins, are living freedom of movement, con- struction and expansion of in Area ‘C’ of the West Bank.1 The occupation severely undermines They are thus under full Israeli illegal settlements, restric- Palestinian livelihood in various ways, civil and military control. 60 tive zoning and planning re- percent (15,000 Bedouins) of including restrictions of planning/de- gimes, confiscations of land, the whole Bedouin popula- velopment, demolitions and forced failure to issue building tion of the oPt, live in the Jor- displacement, limited access to land permits, demolition of their dan Valleyin Area ‘C’, of which and resources. properties and assets, and 3,400 reside in partially or lack of law enforcement. INFOCUS: Bedouins in the occupied Palestinian territory 2013 5 70 percent of Area ‘C’ land is off limits to the Pales- tinian population and the Bedouin/herder communi- ties due to Israeli settlement policies, closed military zones, the imposed nature reserves, and the annexed land by the Wall. Of the re- maining 30 percent, the Israeli authorities allow Pal- estinian construction only within the strict boundaries of Israeli-approved plans. These plans often do not get approved and only cover one percent of Area ‘C’, leaving no room for de- velopment or demographic growth. Most demolitions (90 per- cent) and forced displace- ment (92 percent) insti- gated through the GoI and Israeli Civil Administration in charge of Area ‘C’ occurs in already vulnerable farming SOURCE: UNDP and herding communities 2 (as indicated in the incidents Of the remaining 30%, the Israeli authri- of forced eviction). ties allow Palestinians construction only within Thousands of others remain the strict boundaries of Israeli-approved plans, at risk of displacement due which only cover 1 % of Area C. to outstanding demoli- tion orders, especially with the reduction of the stock. In Area ‘C’, only 225,000 regard to the E1-Plan that In turn, the erosion of tradi- dunums are available for the targets the expansion of Is- tional means of subsistence grazing of sheep and goats. raeli settlements