• A Bedouin woman is detained by Israeli security forces during a protest against forestation in the Negev desert village of Sawe Al Atrash, southern Israel, on January 12, 2022. Reuters
    A Bedouin woman is detained by Israeli security forces during a protest against forestation in the Negev desert village of Sawe Al Atrash, southern Israel, on January 12, 2022. Reuters
  • Israeli security forces stand guard during a protest held by Bedouins against tree-planting by the Jewish National Fund on disputed land near the village, which is in the Negev desert, in southern Israel. AP
    Israeli security forces stand guard during a protest held by Bedouins against tree-planting by the Jewish National Fund on disputed land near the village, which is in the Negev desert, in southern Israel. AP
  • The conflict in southern Israel, a region that includes Bedouin villages unrecognised by the state, has divided the Israeli government. AFP
    The conflict in southern Israel, a region that includes Bedouin villages unrecognised by the state, has divided the Israeli government. AFP
  • Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called for the tree-planting to stop, and the Islamist Ra’am party has threatened to withhold its votes in parliament in protest. AFP
    Foreign Minister Yair Lapid has called for the tree-planting to stop, and the Islamist Ra’am party has threatened to withhold its votes in parliament in protest. AFP
  • Israeli security forces detain a Bedouin man during a protest against forestation at the Negev desert village of Sawe al-Atrash, southern Israel January 12, 2022. REUTERS / Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
    Israeli security forces detain a Bedouin man during a protest against forestation at the Negev desert village of Sawe al-Atrash, southern Israel January 12, 2022. REUTERS / Ammar Awad TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
  • A Bedouin man looks on as Israeli security forces stand guard. AP
    A Bedouin man looks on as Israeli security forces stand guard. AP

Israel halts tree planting on disputed land after Bedouins protest


Rosie Scammell
  • English
  • Arabic

Israel halted a tree-planting campaign on Wednesday after protests rocked the Negev desert, with Bedouin residents rallying against the project on disputed lands.

The demonstrations exposed deep divisions within the ruling coalition, a fragile alliance made up of eight parties from across the political spectrum.

After days of wrangling, the government agreed to suspend the project on Wednesday, Israeli media reported, and to launch negotiations.

The tree planting was met with protest as it got under way on Monday, in an area where Bedouin residents claim ownership. The Israeli state says it is public land.

At least 16 people were arrested for throwing stones and other offences, police said on Wednesday. Five officers sustained minor injuries.

Dust filled the air as mounted officers and others in riot gear advanced on protesters, near the village of Sawe Al Atrash.

Roads were also shut for the initial land-levelling work to go ahead, preventing access to villages, according to Adalah, an Israeli organisation for Arab rights.

“Everyone living there, those who protest and those who don’t, including the kids coming back from school, became hostages to this closed area,” said Suhad Bishara, who heads Adalah’s land and planning unit.

The protests in the sparsely-populated south thrust the Bedouin community to the top of the political agenda.

The Negev is a key supporter base for Ra’am, the Arab party in the coalition, which threatened to abstain from voting with the government.

“A tree is not more important than a person,” party chief Mansour Abbas said on Monday.

The coalition, led by right-wing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, commands a one-seat majority in parliament.

Israeli police officers detain a Bedouin man during a protest in the Negev on January 12. Reuters
Israeli police officers detain a Bedouin man during a protest in the Negev on January 12. Reuters

The centrist foreign minister, Yair Lapid, called for a halt to the project. Tree planting in the Negev was also paused in 2020, during the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s Bedouin minority has claimed ownership in the Negev for decades, while consecutive administrations have been unable to find a lasting resolution to the issue.

Many residents lack direct access to water and electricity, because they live in villages which the Israeli state has not formally recognised.

Israeli authorities have repeatedly pressed residents to leave their homes and move to towns.

Mr Abbas, representing the first Arab party in government, had pledged to improve the lives of the Bedouin community.

But seven months since the coalition took office, there are few tangible changes to daily life in the Negev.

“The way things are happening now, it doesn’t look like there is an attempt to change the policy, vis-a-vis the Bedouin citizens,” said Ms Bishara.

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Floward%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdulaziz%20Al%20Loughani%20and%20Mohamed%20Al%20Arifi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EE-commerce%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbout%20%24200%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAljazira%20Capital%2C%20Rainwater%20Partners%2C%20STV%20and%20Impact46%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C200%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Matrix Resurrections

Director: Lana Wachowski

Stars:  Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick 

Rating:****

Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule

Thursday December 27

Men's quarter-finals

Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm

Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm

Women's exhibition

Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm

Friday December 28

5th place play-off 3pm

Men's semi-finals

Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm

Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm

Saturday December 29

3rd place play-off 5pm

Men's final 7pm

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Asia Cup Qualifier

Venue: Kuala Lumpur

Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September

Fixtures:

Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore

Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman

Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal

Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore

Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu Sep 6: Final

 

Asia Cup

Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Schedule: Sep 15-28

Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier

LIKELY TEAMS

South Africa
Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungi Ngidi.

India (from)
Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

The%20Beekeeper
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDavid%20Ayer%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJason%20Statham%2C%20Josh%20Hutcherson%2C%20Emmy%20Raver-Lampman%2C%20Minnie%20Driver%2C%20Jeremy%20Irons%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

MATCH INFO

Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)

Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)

Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding

Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.

Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.

For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae

 

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

The details

Heard It in a Past Life

Maggie Rogers

(Capital Records)

3/5

Meydan racecard:

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres

7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) 1,600m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m

8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) | 2,000m

10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m

Updated: January 12, 2022, 5:51 PM