Unrecognized Bedouin Villages

The RCUV is a grassroots organization that represents the population of the villages and communities unrecognized by the government. It defends their rights and interests in all official, popular, local and international forums. The RCUV organizes the population of the unrecognized villages into elected local committees and works on their recognition in accordance with clear planning and borders agreed upon by the population. The recognition shall guarantee the right for accommodation and planning should take the future needs of the villages into consideration. The council also works on securing land ownership rights of its constituency.

The RCUV was established in response to the authority’s claims that there is no leadership representing the Arabs in the Negev area and no clear and accurate vision of what they need. When various groups in the Negev noticed that the state is planning to displace the people and confiscate their lands, government officials began to place pressure on the Negev Arabs to accept whatever solution they’re offered. This has improved the community struggle and made the issue of these villages more outspoken at all state levels and in different international forums.

Due to the importance of accurate representation of the villages’ population on the part of the council, a local committee had been elected in each village as representation. The head of the committee represents his village in the plenary session. The members elect a head of the council every five years and debate the council’s general policies. Sheikh Attiyah Al-A’sam was the first head of the council. He is currently the point man for the Forty Committee in the Negev. Jabr Abu Kaf was the second head elected for the council. Hussein Al–Rafay’a is the current head of the regional council.

The Regional Council’s Achievements:

1.      Organizing the population of the unrecognized villages and electing a local committee in each.
2.      Organizing educational courses in the villages, and enlightening the Arab population in the Negev of the authoritative plans that aims at confiscation of their lands.
3.      Organizing owners of animals in the unrecognized villages into one committee that represents them and defends their legal rights.
4.      Organizing demonstrations and protests against the state plans such as destruction of houses, land appropriation, and basic services deprivation.
5.      Inclusion of  the phrase ”unrecognized villages” into the media dictionary in place of the Israeli officials who used to describe the Arab communities in the Negev as ”Diaspora”.
6.      Obliging the state to present some basic services like kindergartens and clinics via petitioning to the High Justice Court.
7.      Drawing the attention of the international and Arab public opinion to the violations against the Negev Arab rights and presenting the issue at some international assemblies, including the UN.
8.      Unmasking the practices of the authorities through the media.
9.      Preparing alternative planning and presenting objections to government planning.
10.      Judicial advocacy in favor of the unrecognized villages’ population.
11.      Implementing many kind projects such as the construction of new dirt roads, providing assistance and help to people whose houses were destroyed, and improving education.

In coordination and cooperation with different institutions and groups, the council works today on building a broader network to confront the various destructive and racist governmental plans whose ultimate aim is to empty the Arab villages in the Negev of their inhabitants and confiscate all their lands.

The council is without a doubt targeted by Israeli institutions. Although many groups in the state try to thwart the council’s work by keeping people unaware, all such attempts fail due to the popular support to the council.