Israel razes Palestinian Bedouin village for '192nd' time, activist says

Residents of Al-Araqib are committed to reconstructing their homes, a local activist told media.
1 min read
03 September, 2021
Al-Araqib has now been destroyed on nearly 200 occasions [Getty]

Israel has demolished a Palestinian Bedouin village for the 192nd time in just over a decade, a local activist has told media.

Al-Araqib located in the Negev or Naqab desert, close to Beersheba city, was razed this latest time on Thursday, Aziz Al-Touri, member of the Committee for the Defence of Al-Aqarib told Anadolu Agency.

Israeli security stopped Palestinians from going into the area to observe what happened, Al-Touri said.

Locals are committed to reconstructing the village, he added.

Analysis
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There were 22 families living in Al-Araqib, in houses made from materials including plastic and wood.

Israel initially demolished homes at the site over a decade ago, in 2010.

Tel Aviv alleges the area is "state land".

However, according to Israeli non-profit Zochrot, which focuses on the legacy of the Nakba, construction in the area initially occurred under the Ottoman Empire and locals bought the grounds.

Israel has routinely dispossessed Palestinian Bedouins, who often face expulsion and home demolition.