A new little town was established overnight this week in the Negev, north of Be'er Sheva and four kilometers south of the Bedouin-populated city Rahat. Givot Bar is its name, and its purpose is to help strengthen the Jewish presence in the Negev. The stealthy manner in which it was built was an indication of the tensions with the local Bedouins. The site of the new town was the subject of a 20-month long court battle that ended yesterday in the Jewish settlers' favor - and they wasted no time in moving in.
Twelve families are living in Givot Bar at present - so far with generator-provided electricity and without running water - and there are plans for up to 600 more to arrive. The Housing Ministry and the Jewish Agency supported and aided the initiative, and Housing Minister Effie Eitam led the mezuzah-placing ceremony on the new homes. [A mezuzah is two Torah passages written on a parchment and placed on the doorposts in Jewish homes and buildings.]
"We have high hopes for this area," said David Albilia, one of the new residents, "and we have mutual dreams with the Bedouin who live around us." No one, apparently, has informed the Bedouin, however. Nuri Al-Ukbi, a local Bedouin leader, arrived at the ceremony and called out to Minister Eitam, "You're a racist! The heavens won't let you live here!" Eitam did not lose his composure and blessed the new residents, "This is truly the fulfillment of Ben-Gurion's vision. Strengthening the State of Israel's grasp in the Negev is an act of genuine Zionism that is within the national consensus."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union), speaking on Arutz-7 today, had strong criticism for the way in which the new town was established: "Like thieves in the night, just as in the days of the British Mandate, we had to do it on the sly, so that no one should see - lest, Heaven forbid, the Bedouin should throw rocks at us... Just as then we were afraid of the British High Commissioner, today we are afraid of the Bedouin..."
Twelve families are living in Givot Bar at present - so far with generator-provided electricity and without running water - and there are plans for up to 600 more to arrive. The Housing Ministry and the Jewish Agency supported and aided the initiative, and Housing Minister Effie Eitam led the mezuzah-placing ceremony on the new homes. [A mezuzah is two Torah passages written on a parchment and placed on the doorposts in Jewish homes and buildings.]
"We have high hopes for this area," said David Albilia, one of the new residents, "and we have mutual dreams with the Bedouin who live around us." No one, apparently, has informed the Bedouin, however. Nuri Al-Ukbi, a local Bedouin leader, arrived at the ceremony and called out to Minister Eitam, "You're a racist! The heavens won't let you live here!" Eitam did not lose his composure and blessed the new residents, "This is truly the fulfillment of Ben-Gurion's vision. Strengthening the State of Israel's grasp in the Negev is an act of genuine Zionism that is within the national consensus."
MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union), speaking on Arutz-7 today, had strong criticism for the way in which the new town was established: "Like thieves in the night, just as in the days of the British Mandate, we had to do it on the sly, so that no one should see - lest, Heaven forbid, the Bedouin should throw rocks at us... Just as then we were afraid of the British High Commissioner, today we are afraid of the Bedouin..."