Recognition Forum

 INVITATION

to a PROTEST AND STUDY SEMINAR

S A T U R D A Y, April 14, 2007, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

at the Al Araqib lands

Evil Deeds

by Nuri Al Okbi

I came back to Al Araqib, my home

Birth place of my father and grandfather

Evil men took my tents

My food, my water

Even my blanket and the pillow under my head

Guests were not offered any drink by me

For no sugar nor coffee were left me

I am so very sad for I stood alone

And so evil men fought me

Bulldozers, guns and policemen came to frighten me

Even a memorial I had built with my own hands

they, the evil men, demolished this grave on my ground

Great funds were wasted in their war against me

May they drop an atom bomb on my head

I shall never die

No, never die

For in heaven and on earth my spirit lives on…

Activists and anyone else interested – are all invited to a protest and study seminar held on Saturday, April 14, 2007, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Al Araqib lands, marking the ongoing struggle since the late 1950's of Nuri Al Okbi and his tribes people, to come back, live and work the lands of their village, and marking one year of Nuri's active struggle for his right to cultivate and live on his land.

This protest event will offer activists and all those interested tools to update the public struggles in which they are currently involved.

Recognition Forum includes the following organizations: The Association of Forty, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, The Negev Co-existence Forum for Civil Equality, New Profile, the Coalition of Women for Peace, Taayush – Arab-Jewish Partnership, Rabbis for Human Rights (do not participate in events held on Shabat).

PROGRAM:

10:30 – 10:45   Introduction and facilitation – Atiya Al Assam

10:45 – 11:45   Presentation of community and individuals' social struggles – general                  insights of personal and collective struggles.

Nuri Al Okbi – Chairman of the Association for Help and Protection of Beduin Rights – presentation of the struggle at Al Araqib and the unrecognized villages in the Negev.

Mohammad  Abu Dauf – Chairman of the Association of Forty – a model struggle for recognition of the unrecognized villages.

Gerardo Leibner – Taayush – Principle aspects of policy and struggle.

11:45 – 13:15  Workshops and discussion groups

Activism and non-violence Workshop

Facilitators: Mohammad Khayib, Bil'in Popular Committee

                    Amos Gwirtz, Recognition Forum

                    Kobi Schnitz, Anarchists Against the Fence                      

Legal Workshop

Facilitators:  Sandy Kedar/Ilan Saban, legal advisers

Media Workshop

Facilitators:  Yassar Okbi, newspaper editor        

                      Walid Yassin

                       Mohammad Yunes, newspaper editor

Lobbying workshop

Facilitators:  Yossi Algazi, journalist, Recognition Forum

                      Pnina Firestone, Coalition of Women for Peace

International Lobbying Workshop

Facilitator:  Ilan Yohai

Community Outreach Workshop

Facilitator: Roni Kaufman

13:15 – 14:00   Reports from the workshops and plenary discussion. Conclusion

14:00 – 14:30   Common meal

14:30               Goodbye                                                  

Transportation:

From Tel Aviv  - Arlozorov train station, El Al Terminal spot, 8:30 a.m. (contact Amos 052-6035685, Yaaco  050-5733276)

From Jerusalem: Gan Ha'Paamon (Liberty Bell Park), 9 a.m. (contact:

ICAHD 02-6245560)

Rendez-vous site: Lehavim Junction, direction Rahat, 10:15 a.m.

(contact Nuri 054-5465556, Atiya 050-5702064)

Background on the Al Okbis and Al Araqib

For generations, members of the Al Okbi tribe have lived and worked on their lands in Al Arakib (which has approximately 19,000 dunam). In 1951 the Israeli Army announced to Sheik Al Okbi that the tribe would have to move to the Hura area,  located 20 kilometers to the east, for “security reasons.”  The tribe was promised that they would be able to return to their lands in 6 months time; that promise has never been kept. In 1953 the “Land Acquisition Law” was passed and made it possible for the State to expropriate unsettled lands. Since the Al Okbi tribe had been moved, their lands in Al Araqib were expropriated and listed as part of the Development Authority. The tribe lives in Hura up to this day under very difficult conditions, and in spite of the fact that the state authorities moved them to Hura, their village is officially “unrecognized.” As a result, the village has no basic services such as electricity, garbage removal, access roads, and sewage system. The houses are pegged for demolition.