MK Michael Ben-Ari of the Ichud Leumi (National Union) has submitted a request to tour the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev in order to document illegal construction. Jewish Front activists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Baruch Marzel plan to take part in the tour as well.
The three hope to prove that Israel is discriminating against Jews by cracking down harshly on unauthorized Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria while turning a blind eye to illegal building in the Arab sector. They plan to bring cameras to document illegal construction in Arab cities.
"They keep talking to us about the rule of law and the need to enforce laws against illegal building,” Ben-Gvir said. “Today we're saying, why not? If they want to destroy illegal outposts, the time has come to start with the illegal outposts in the Negev and the Galilee.”
Jewish activists “will not put up with discrimination,” Ben-Gvir added.
The tour of Rahat and nearby Bedouin towns is scheduled to take place three weeks from now.
Rahat city officials have expressed willingness to cooperate with the visit. The mayor of Rahat said Ben-Ari is welcome to visit, but added that his city is already fighting the phenomenon of illegal building.
Earlier this year Ben-Ari and fellow Jewish nationalists organized a Zionist march in the Israeli-Arab city of Umm el-Fahm. The march, which was strongly opposed by many local Arabs, was meant to demonstrate Israeli sovereignty in Arab cities, organizers said.