Mondoweiss has already reported the demolition of Bedouin Palestinian homes in an-Naqab in the south of Israel. Neve Gordon and others have correctly contextualised the events in terms of the wider strategic aims of 'Judaising' the Negev.
The following story appeared in Ha'aretz the same day as armed forced and bulldozers razed Arab homes:
The government will be providing housing assistance for army officers who move to the Negev desert region, as army bases relocate from central Israel. Assistance will take the form of a two-year rent subsidy or a discount on buying land to build a home.
The ministerial committee on development of the Negev and Galilee, headed by deputy prime minister Silvan Shalom, yesterday approved a list of decisions to strengthen the two regions. In total, the moves will cost more than NIS 200 million. They include initiatives to encourage army personnel to relocate to the Negev...
Oh, build me a home where the Bedouin roam
Once their cries of despair have all died
Where no more are heard anti-Zionist words
And the Holocaust won’t be denied
:-)
To achieve Judeo-Utopia, add -ed to roam.
Super.
Now give us a chorus of “Nakba is a never-ending story”.
The government will be providing housing assistance for army officers who move to the Negev desert region, as army bases relocate from central Israel. Assistance will take the form of a two-year rent subsidy or a discount on buying land to build a home.
And what about the “relocated” Bedouins? Where do they figure into Israel’s plans? Are they to disappear off the face of this Earth?
Perhaps some liberal Zionists can explain this predicament.
Urban reservations. Think: the projects. Arab slums.
No, Sheriff Arpaio and tent prisons. Life sentence for being of the “Arab persuasion”.
“The government will be providing housing assistance for army officers who move to the Negev desert region, as army bases relocate from central Israel.”
From the looks of that, the israelis are spreading their military out, making it less vulnerable. Being concentrated, their military installations are very vulnerable to counterattack. Possibly, they will be placing some of their land based nuclear missiles out in the Negev, as well.
This could mean the israelis are digging in for the long haul and are planning a lot more, and worse, wars upon their neighbours.
Ben White,
It’s good to see you contributing here. I like your dedication.