הודעה לעיתונות: יהדות העולם מתגייסת למען זכויות הבדואים ונגד התוכניות להזיז אותם מאדמותיהם ›

Attached is a letter jointly written by four of the British Jewish youth movements, the UJS (Union of Jewish Students), and ProZion, the UK Zionist movement for Progressive Judaism. Collectively we represent a large section of Anglo Jewry and send in excess of 1500 young Jews to Israel each year on a variety of programmes. In schools and universities our members act as ambassadors for Israel and we are responsible helping these young people forge a positive and honest relationship with the Jewish homeland.

The attached letter outlines where we stand on the Bill on the Arrangement of Bedouin Settlement in the Negev. We feel strongly opposed to the advancement of this bill and we ask you to read our letter and take our concerns seriously.

We thank you for your time and act quickly on this matter.

LJY-Netzer, youth movement for Liberal Judaism (UK)

RSY-Netzer, youth movement for the Movement for Reform Judaism (UK)

NOAM Masorti, youth movement for Masorti Judaism (UK)

Habonim Dror UK, part of Hanoar Haoved

UJS, the Union of Jewish Students (UK)

Pro Zion, the UK Zionist movement for Progressive Judaism

Dear Ministers

This Monday the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs is set to discuss the Bill on the Arrangement of Bedouin Settlement in the Negev

As Jewish representative organisations speaking on behalf of a large cross-section of Anglo-Jewry, committed to the state of Israel and our Jewish heritage, we believe advancing this bill in the Knesset defies the Jewish religious imperative to treat the minorities within our borders fairly and with justice.

Each year our youth movements collectively take over 1300 16 year old Jews to Israel in order to help them forge an identity with the Jewish homeland. Our organisations bring together another 1000 practicing and engaged, Jewish adults to engage with and support Israel. We want to be able to show them a Jewish state that respects its Arab minority, is committed to Jewish values of justice and equality and that lives up to the pledges made in the Declaration of Independence.

As Zionist organizations who care about the State of Israel, we cannot allow the expulsion of 40,000 Bedouin, and deny the Bedouin a fair opportunity to hold on to their ancestral lands and Israel's image and standing in the world will be significantly eroded if the bill is advanced.

The Bedouin community constitutes 30% of the Negev population, and their demands involve only 5.4% of its land. There has never been a fair process for examining their demands, and most of the land claims the government invited the Bedouin to submit in the 1970's were never processed one way or the other. The Bedouin occupy much less space in proportion to their numbers even if all their demands are met.

Evicting 40,000 people from their ancestral homes; cutting them off from their sources of income and destroying their social fabric and way of life will only increase problems. The time has come for an equitable resolution of Bedouin rights in the Negev. Any worthy resolution must preserve the following principles:

– It will be arrived at only with real involvement from the Bedouin community institutions.

– Full recognition for all existing villages, even if that means altering the national zoning plan.

– Acceptance of the ownership claims made in the 1970’s.

– Diversity of settlement types, not just towns or large villages.

– Integration of the Bedouin in planning and finding solutions.

– Developing the Negev equally – for all its residents.

It is in your hands to decide whether we observe the command to treat those living with us fairly and justice because "You were resident aliens in the land of Egypt."

As members of global Jewry we call upon you to freeze the legislation and work on creating an alternative and just solution.

Sincerely,

LJY-Netzer, youth movement for Liberal Judaism (UK)

RSY-Netzer, youth movement for the Movement for Reform Judaism (UK)

NOAM Masorti, youth movement for Masorti Judaism (UK)

Habonim Dror UK, part of Hanoar Haoved

UJS, the Union of Jewish Students (UK)

Pro Zion, the UK Zionist movement for Progressive Judaism