Israel continues plan to rid Negev of Arabs

Israel is actively working to displace Arab residents of the Negev to make way for Jewish communities, Arab48 reported yesterday.

Since the Nakba of 1948, Israeli authorities have been implementing developmental projects which force Arab communities out of their homes and force them to concede their land.

In return, Israel sometimes builds units for Arabs in other areas and offers them compensation however they do not always fulfil their pledged.

One of the latest projects, the five-year economic development plan called the Prawer Project, was rejected by Arab communities who organised massive protests against it was suspended.

Recently, Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon pledged to include the project it in the 2017 budget.

To force Arabs out of the areas, Israel cuts their access to basic amenities including water, electricity and sewage. They also carry out collective demolitions of Arab houses.

The village of Al-Araqeeb has been demolished 105 times by Israeli occupation forces in an attempt to force its residents out, however they are been resilient and a number of families remain in the area.