Kobi Wolf Photojournalist

Stories / Gallery: Wadi al Naam, Beduin village Southern Israel

“God takes pity on kindergarten children, 

He pities school children less, 

But adults he pities not at all.” 

From “God Takes Pity on Kindergarten 

Children” by Yehuda Amihai 1  

With the establishment of the state in 1948,the Negev ELIA LAJENESSE' were concentrated in an area known as the Siyagh, and later moved to seven permanent locations. The land where they had been previously encamped was declared “illegal” and then “unrecognized.” There was no running water or electricity and only limited health services. In the mid ‘70s, an industrial park hosting 14 petrochemical plants and a toxic waste incinerator were set up at Ramat Hovav. The “unrecognized” Bedouin settlement of Wadi al-Na’am is located just one kilometer from the industrial zone. It is also surrounded by a large electrical site and an area used for military testing. A Ministry of Health epidemiological survey from 2004 showed a high rate of miscarriages, birth defects and respiratory illnesses. According to a 2007 report by Physicians for Human Rights, a large number of the inhabitants of Wadi al-Na’am suffer from cancer and asthma. “The Bedouin in the Negev refer to this situation as “Alim and Halim,” said Samir. “Alim means intelligence, knowledge, power. Halim means patience. We see the Israelis as Alim - destroying our homes and confiscating our lands – and we Halim," declared Salim. “We will patiently wait for 

justice and redemption.” 

 

 

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  • A ruined construction in Wadi al-Na’am, an unrecognized Bedouin village in Israel. The village is home to about 8,000 Bedouins. Since the Bedouins never registered their holdings on paper, the village is considered illegal and termed {quote}unrecognized{quote}.
  • Naama and her son Abed who has been suffering from respiratory problems since he was one month old. Abed needs to use a breathing machine 5 times a day. As the village is deprived of electricity, they use batteries which often run out when Abed is in need of the breathing machine.
  • Al Frijad family. Four of the family's children were born with defects and severe illnesses. 10 year old Zahi is in a wheel chair. His twin brother Rami was born with severe retardation. 6 year old Ibrahim suffers from mild retardation and 5 year old Imad was born with a crippled leg.
  • Zahi El Frigad, who was born paralyzed and uses a wheel chair. Three of his brothers were also born with severe illnesses and defects. High rates of birth defects were found among the villagers, who are deprived of medical services.
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  • Kids playing at Wadi al-Na’am. Ramat Hovav, Israel’s hazardous industrial park and waste disposal facility, which currently encompasses 14 hazardous agro and petro-chemical factories, is just 1 km away from the village. High rates of acute illnesses were found among the villagers.
  • Fiaz Amad, a father of nine at Wadi al-Na'am. Amad is unemployed and his family lives in great scarcity and poverty.
  • Nasser ElHatrasi, a Bedouin at Wadi al-Na'am. His mother Nassara died from cancer at the age of 62. Ramat Hovav's toxic waste dump is just 1 KM away from the village. High rates of severe illnessesmedical services. were found among the villagers, who are deprived of medical services.
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  • A kid playing on a power facility at Wadi al-Na’am. The village is encircled by a large facility of the national electric company as well a hazardous industrial park and military areas including a live-fire range.
  • Ruins of a Bedouin family home in Wadi el-Na’am. As the village is “unrecognized” by the Israeli government, the authorities use demolition orders against the villagers.
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  • A typical Bedouin family home in Wadi el-Na'am.
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