Residents of the illegal Bedouin village of Bir Hadaj protested today against demolition of the illegal structures built on the site.
The protest was also attended by Bedouin Knesset Member Taleb Abu 'Arar (Joint Arab List) who claimed it was not law enforcement but an attempt to harm Arab society as a whole.
"We're demonstrating against demolition of houses, but in practice we're protesting against a secret security plan to prevent natural increase of the Arabs in the country," said the Israeli MK during the demonstration.
In the past the media has reported Abu Arar had a polygamous lifestyle, was married to two women, and had 12 children.
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home), responsible for Bedouin settlement, rejected claims of the residents who protested implementation of the demolition orders.
"The State of Israel - and I, as representative of the government, cannot ignore the ongoing and blatant violation of the law, while rejecting any attempt beyond the letter of the law to regulate their status," said Minister Ariel. "The residents of Bir Hadaj are not above the law," he says, "governance in the Negev is both development and construction, as well as uncompromising enforcement."
The police stated: "The demonstration was subject to conditions of a license and was prepared as required by law. When demonstrators descended on the road it was explained to them that by blocking the road they were violating the permit. Before the demonstration was declared illegal, the protesters evacuated the road and the demonstration ended. The Israel Police will continue to allow freedom of protest as long as it meets the requirements of the law."