After an Iranian missile destroyed residential buildings in Dimona and Arad, wounding over 100 people, Israel’s Bedouin community rushed to local Facebook groups to offer their homes, food, and messages of solidarity.
Sager Abu Srehan, a father of six and a vice principal at the Amal Reut School living in the small Bedouin town of Tel Sheva, was one of the first to extend his hand to those impacted by the Iranian attacks.
Srehan, who proudly shared that his three daughters and three sons grew up to become doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and chefs in Israel, told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that he sent the message because “We live together with the Jewish society as brothers.”
“I think the real reality is what matters. We live together with the Jewish society as brothers, on the same land and under the same sky. We study together, work together, and this country belongs to all of us. We are people who belong here and who love our country,” he shared. “The partnership between us as a society, with many examples of cooperation, is what creates the beautiful colors in the mosaic of Israeli society.”
Now studying a master’s degree at Ben-Gurion University in the department of Management and Conflict Resolution, Srehan said it was more important now than ever before to make it clear that the Bedouin community is attached to Israel’s Jewry.
“The same missile does not distinguish between Bedouin and Jew, and therefore we must always stand together, make use of every moment, and continue educating for the love of the land,” he asserted. “We must always stand together, make use of every moment, and continue educating for the love of the land.”
Israel’s Bedouin show unity after southern missile attack
Asked about why he felt the need to reach out to those in Arad and Dimona, he said, “Helping in difficult times is not something special we do once – it is part of our DNA as a Bedouin society.”
“That is why, whenever there is a need, you will always find the Bedouin community among the first to come and help. We believe that in times like these we must stand together, support one another, and show that we are one society living in one country, sharing the same fate and the same future,” he continued.
“In my opinion, people are measured in situations like these, and I believe the Bedouin community has never hesitated to help and contribute. We saw this clearly during the events of October, when the Bedouin community mobilized and gave a lot. Joint aid centers were established for both Bedouin and Jews.”
Despite the community’s willingness to help, Srehan acknowledged that the war has exposed a number of challenges faced by Israeli Bedouin.
“A large part of our community lives in unrecognized villages, where there are no protected shelters, and this creates a very big challenge and puts people in a difficult situation,” he shared.
“I truly hope the state will be able to provide proper protection solutions, because it is not easy, especially when people live in very limited conditions, sometimes even in tin structures or tents. I am not saying this in order to blame anyone, but rather with the hope that the state will find a professional and fair solution to this problem.”
Some 120,000 Bedouin live in dozens of unrecognized villages, according to the New Israel Fund. Without proper infrastructure, those residing in these towns often rely on dirt holes to provide some cover from missiles, according to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
“The war also affects our youth and our students, just as it does everywhere else, but the fact that many of our students live in unrecognized villages makes it harder for them to connect to distance learning during emergencies. The lack of infrastructure, protection, and stable conditions creates real difficulties for them,” Srehan said, adding he hopes this war will soon end and Israel will invest in ensuring every citizen has proper protection.
Concluding the brief interview, Srehan promised, “Our homes are always open to all residents of Dimona and Arad. I hope the war will end soon and that we can return to normal life.”