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Demolition work in al-Arakib
Police forces guard workers

Bedouin village razed again; MK forcefully removed

Land Administration workers demolish structures that had been rebuilt in al-Arakib after last week's razing. MK El-Sana barricades himself in one of the structures

Israel Land Administration workers on Wednesday razed the Bedouin village of al-Arakib near Rahat. The village, which is not recognized by the state, was demolished last week, but since then 10 new structures were erected there.

 

Large police forces secured the Land Administration workers.

 

Knesset Member Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) arrived at the scene and barricaded himself in one of the homes. He was forcefully removed by police officers.

 

At some point El-Sana lost consciousness and was evacuated to Beersheba's Soroko Medical Center.

 

The demolition works were met with only mild resistance from the residents themselves. However, police arrested six individuals, five of whom were considered serial invaders. The sixth's detainee is suspected of assaulting police officers

 

Last week some 1,300 police officers equipped with clubs, helmets and crowd-dispersal gear entered al-Arakib at dawn to secure Land Administration workers who demolished 45 structures at the site. The residents, backed by left-wing activists, lit large bonfires. A woman was arrested and a number of Bedouins were taken in for questioning.

 

Al-Arakib spokesman and local resident Dr. Awad Abu-Farikh said following last week's razing: "Today we got a close glimpse of the government's true face. We were stunned to witness the violent force being used.

 

"The black-clad special unit forces are the true face of (Foreign Minister Avigdor) Lieberman's democracy. This operation is the first step in the uprooting of many villages. We shall return to our villages, build our homes and not leave this place," he said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.04.10, 10:35
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