In Orwellian Israel, they have a short memory
Now the Bedouin, perhaps the most weakened and deprived community in the country, is being exploited to improve the image of Israeli society in the West. ‘Bedouin-washing’. Jewish supremacy? Us?! What are you talking about, some of our most beloved citizens are Bedouin!
By Rogel Alpher • Translated by Sol Salbe
In the past 24 hours there has been an Orwellian reversal in the status of the Bedouin in the eyes of the Jewish public in Israel. They suddenly became the darling of the Zionist enterprise. In recent years, television news viewers have been brought up to see the Bedouin “Pzoura” [literally diaspora — those living very much on their land in unrecognised villages] in the Negev as an enemy. A violent gang of dangerous outlaws who take over state land, refuse to acknowledge the authority of the Jewish state, and multiply too quickly.
The vast majority of the Zionist parties regarded the Bedouin in the Negev as a problem of “governance” and “sovereignty.” For years before October 7, the news was filled with articles presenting driving on the roads of the Negev as a danger to life because the Bedouin run amuck over them, with their entire aim is to terrorise and frighten Jews. It was said that the police are afraid of them. The problem of “governance” in the Negev was one of the main reasons Ben-Gvir was given the political power to become Minister for National Security. He promised to show them, the Jew-haters, who were the Lords of the Land.
And then Kaid Farhan Elkadi arrived at Soroka Hospital. The captive who was rescued in another “heroic” operation and thanks to “amazing” intelligence. Alas. He is a Bedouin. And not just any Bedouin, but from an unrecognised village called Karkur, located south of Rahat. An unrecognised village, meaning he’s the enemy personified, part of an Islamic plot to take over Jewish lands. What to do? Simple: decide that he’s not from there. They say that he is from Rahat [a town established by Israel in1972 and later declared a city]. Let Elkadi know that from now on he is a resident of Rahat. Rahat, and not some hellhole that is not connected to water and electricity, and deprived of sewerage and telephone infrastructure. For example, Umm al Hiran, where Yacoub Abu Al-Qia’an was shot dead. By police officers. Even though he was innocent. Just like Elkadi. But then it was automatically asserted that he was a terrorist. Because he was a Bedouin. But Elkadi is required for “Hasbara”: to show the world that there is no racism against Arabs in Israel.
Former OC Northern Command General Yossi Peled excelled everyone when he proclaimed that “the Bedouin saved dozens if not hundreds of Jews at Nova [dance]… They explained to me that they could have said, ‘Wait a minute, we’re Arabs, we’re Muslims. Nope’! But instead, they told me: ‘We are Israelis, we will save Israelis.’ And they did it in droves.” How do these Righteous Among the Nations reconcile those comments with the systematic media demonisation campaign directed for years against these Bedouins from the Pzoura? They don’t.
In an Orwellian country, it is beneficial to cultivate a short memory. It also allows you to enjoy the anthropological interviews with members of the Pzoura: How many will you be hosting in the celebration feast? How many sheep will you slaughter? You got the impression that this time they would even be allowed to shoot in the air. Come on, let them be happy, isn’t that fair? Netanyahu showcased Bedouin soldier Ashraf al-Buhiri to Congress and praised his exploits on October 7. Now the Pzoura, perhaps the most weakened and deprived community in the country, is being exploited to improve the image of Israeli society in the West. Bedouin-wash. Jewish supremacy? Us?! What are you talking about, some of our most beloved citizens are Bedouin!
