Israel tables plan to move Bedouin

RAHAT, Israel - Israel on Thursday suspended a contentious bill aimed at resettling nomadic Bedouin Arabs into government-recognized villages, after a series of objections rendered the plan politically untenable.

The man behind the program, former Cabinet minister Benny Begin, called the Bedouin in Israel’s southern Negev desert the country’s most discriminated-against minority and bemoaned that political forces had derailed a plan he said aimed to help the community.

Begin said that given the current reality he was forced to recommend that the proposed bill be shelved, a suggestion immediately approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Liberal opponents said the plan would confiscate Bedouin land and affect their nomadic way of life, while hard-liners thought it was too generous. Others said the Bedouin were not consulted and that the plan, which called for uprooting thousands and relocating them into new towns, was being forced upon them.

The government insisted its moves were necessary to provide basic services that many Bedouin lack, and would benefit their community while preserving their traditions. The government body dealing with the plan said it calls for the vast majority of Bedouin to live where they are.

A pair of Bedouin representatives reached by telephone had no immediate comment.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 12/13/2013

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