“I’ve seen Jews who are physically assaulting, not threatening with their finger and with their tone, physically attacking military commanders, and they (the commanders) let it pass. What happens in the Negev reminds us of what is happening in the US. There is an oppressed population here that has been persecuted for many years. It is neglected and is in the country's backyard, suffering from poverty, unemployment, house demolitions, communities with no water and no roads and no electricity. It’s worse than Somalia and no one is dealing with that."
--Former Bedouin minister, Taleb A-Sannaa, responds to the inflammatory reactions of Jewish Israelis to the video of Bedouin young men riding SUVs and surrounding a military vehicle and later arguing vehemently with Israeli military officers.*

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Front Page:

Interviews:
On Annexation and Bedouin theft of military equipment in the Negev: ”Abandon the horrible annexation plan, the Palestinian Authority is essential for Israel's security"
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad, who previously served as a senior official in the Ministry of Defense, gave his opinion on the issue of the civil disturbances filmed in the Negev, and also addressed with pessimism the impending application of sovereignty (to parts of the West Bank). (103FM/Maariv)
This phenomenon (re: Bedouin in the Negev), someone told us that you also had something also to you in the family.
AG: ”I don't usually like to talk about my family. The phenomenon there (in the Negev) is well-known. It's also criminal, but it's also nationalist. Either we control this country or we don’t.”
Would you give the IDF powers to shoot in case someone tries to steal a weapon?
"That can be done, but it is an admission of the failure of law enforcement institutions. There should also be a whole circle of their capture, prosecution and proper punishment, otherwise there is no deterrence, no punishment, no prevention. It is as if the state says, 'The Negev, it’s parts, is not ours.’ Whose is it? The Wild West’s? This phenomenon is very old, it doesn't get covered (in the media).”
But the circle is a big thing, and when a soldier is holding a weapon and the Bedouin know he can't use it, so they ride on ATVs and snatch whatever they want.
“Let’s suppose this man pointed a firearm and he was a security threat (not a criminal threat). He would be captured within two hours.” [i.e. the Bedouin are not a serious threat. - OH]
Would you run have the Shin Bet intervene in such an event?
“They get the Shin Bet involved in everything: Corona, this and that. Bringing in the Shin Bet is a declaration of failure. The Shin Bet’s job is to fight terrorism. That’s it…If the Shin Bet starts to deal with crime issues, then it will not be focused on its real work.”
Annex everything? Only annex parts? Don’t annex? What to say to Trump? What would you do?
"I would immediately announce that I was abandoning this horrific annexation plan. What do we need it for? We have excellent security that we have developed. We have a major threat, which is the Iranians. The IDF today in very comfortable security situation, where, in fact, terrorism is more or less defeated. That has for some time been thanks to the Shin Bet and the security branches. The IDF trains according to the regular training program along the Jordanian border, which is a long and winding, complicated border and close to Jerusalem. I do not want to say, because I don’t know if it is permissible, how many forces the are that are deployed to protect it. Millions of people pass through the Allenby border crossing (between Jordan and West Bank). Why should I change it? What does it give us? You want to strengthen the (Beqaa Jordan) Valley? Take this neglected area and strengthen it. Meanwhile, from so much talk of annexation, we have already lost two territories, Naharayim and Tzofar. Why did we have to lose them? And in the end, there won’t be an annexation.”
But the question is why not legally determine the situation that has been de facto for 53 years?
"First of all, we enjoy a comfortable reality. Jordan actually allows us the security border all the way to Iraq. That is to say, Judea and Samaria is a relatively wide area in our terms, the Jordan River, the the mountainous region, Rabat Amman, the desert, all this is a security area where Israel enjoys incredible security."
But you know that Abdullah is doing it because if he lets the terrorists go wild in Jordan, he will be the first to go down.”
"I hear the statements that he depends on us and we feed and water him…"
Does he do it because he loves us?
"I don't know if anyone loves us. I'm not looking for love, either. I'm looking for a security cooperation that is an alternative to using violent force, that is wise and gives us peace."
Great, but it's in his best interest.
“No.”
Otherwise, he wouldn't do it.
"If you insult him, annex the (Beqaa Jordan) valley, violate the peace agreement, you will eventually shock the king."
That does not violate the peace agreement (with Jordan).
“That is called a violation of the peace treaty.”
Why? It says that the border is between Israel and Jordan ...
"You say, but you must not make any unilateral moves. To make the (Beqaa Jordan) valley permanently (part of Israel)? That is one of the more neglected areas of Israel. Invest money there, attract residents. Why all the time declarative Zionism? I'm for practical Zionism.”
We were warned against many things of this type, including the (transfer of the) US Embassy.
"I wasn’t part of that. Transferring the US embassy has no meaning.”
The Golan Heights were also annexed and nothing happened, and also Ahmad Yassin (Hamas spiritual leader) was taken down. I wrote on behalf of people like you that the Middle East will go on fire. Maybe this is an opportunity that won’t return? To draw and say 'this is the eastern border of the State of Israel' long after Abdullah (is gone). This is important for centuries to come, perhaps?
"I disagree with all the assumptions you made. Ahmed Yassin should have died long ago, and he passed when he passed and that was better than him not passing. I am not scared of important steps, but what did you say? Ahmed Yassin, as soon as he left the world, it got better, at least in a security sense. We enjoy a reality of security, there is another side, there is a partnership here. This annexation is seen as sticking two fingers in their eyes, they cannot bear it. The Palestinian Authority is the product of an agreement with the PLO.”
Which they declared the cancellation of, by the way.
"Declared, but fulfill it. And we, after it was canceled and we, ourselves, did not fulfill it, are gaining from it. The essence is that the Palestinian Authority is essential to the security of the state (of Israel). I say that with guarantees.”
The core is that the Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, that is the core.
"That's your view."
I think security reasons are not everything.
"Let go of the debate over who owns the land, for a moment. I am there (in the West Bank), I am in control there. The IDF is there and the Shin Bet is there, and they have complete freedom of action. I can compare it to the period where I was alerting day and night against Arafat the murderer. Where were we then and where are we today?”
But they said 'we're there too' regarding Gaza, and the next day we weren't there. In other words, it’s a matter of a prime minister's decision.
"Gaza is exactly the example that I am taking about. A unilateral move and you got Hamastan. You will shake up the Palestinian Authority, go to direct occupation (if you annex). We have a new threat that is not getting any media coverage, this is the International Court of Justice. My impression is that it is progressing like a tortoise, slowly crawling, but reaching the goal. I think that the Americans cannot stop this threat and it is very serious. I think that, in the end, the leading European countries will be against us. I think (in) the United States, there is a 50% possibility that a president will rise up and say, ‘I cancel the declaration of support for annexation.’ It’s not even an agreement. I think that the Arab states will in no way support this agreement, despite what they are selling us here [probably a reference to ‘Israel Hayom’ reports that Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt are supportive of annexation. - OH]. Even when President Trump announced his plan, three ambassadors from three important but relatively small countries stood behind him - Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, etc. I see that as security damage. It's a threat, it's an appeal of order. Instead of using intelligence and focusing on the Iranian threat, we will soon find ... Now the IDF is engaged in discussions on how to prepare for it (annexation). So it has time to deal with that? It should deal with Iran.”


"The situation in the Negev Bedouin is worse than Somalia - if left untreated, it will be like the US"
In an interview given on Wednesday on the 103FM radio program of Golan Yochpaz and Anat Davidov, Maariv Military affairs reporter, Tal Lev Ram, and Bedouin public figure and former minister, Talab a-Sanaa, discussed the video showing members of the Bedouin sector rioting in fire zones and confronting officers. Al-Sanaa blamed: “This population has been persecuted for years." (103FM/Maariv)
Taleb A-Sanaa: “I’ve seen Jews who are physically assaulting, not threatening with their finger and with their tone, physically attacking military commanders, and they (the commanders) let it pass. What happens in the Negev reminds us of what is happening in the US. There is an oppressed population here that has been persecuted for many years. It is neglected and is in the country's backyard, suffering from poverty, unemployment, house demolitions, communities with no water and no roads and no electricity. It’s worse than Somalia and no one is dealing with that,” he accused.
RADIO HOSTS: This group stole equipment. They are filmed as they narrow in on an IDF vehicle and threaten IDF officers. it's not the same.
Taleb A-Sanaa: “Are you paying attention to the tone? You both talk, I listened to the conversation, about sovereign deterrence as if it were about Hezbollah, deterrence, state, sovereign, destabilization. You need to calm down. Citizens of the state, an argument starts up, young people go out into nature areas, enter fire zones, the entire Negev, 85% of the Negev is fire zones.”
RADIO HOSTS: It isn’t about entering fire zones but about the theft.
Taleb A-Sanaa: "You didn’t see theft, you saw an argument. What can you steal from fire zones? All the Negev is fire zones, what's there to steal?”
The chase was due to the suspicion of those officers that (Bedouin were) stealing equipment from them.
Tal Lev Ram: "But you can't be naive. What can you do in a fire area? I'll tell you exactly what the statistics are: theft of night vision equipment that afterward is used to smuggle drugs, theft of ammunition and after that it’s sold on the black market. I can agree with a lot of things about dealing with the Bedouin population and what needs to be done economically, in social welfare and the like. But it is expected of a former public figure that he also make a clear statement, that when there is law enforcement that can become a phenomenon that will harm us all, in this very sensitive co-existence that is going on in the Negev.”
RADIO: Do you condemn the event?
Taleb A-Sana: "The thing is, there is delinquency throughout the state. Bedouins, Jews, criminals and there are police and courts for that.  No one comes to defend delinquency. I'm talking about the discourse that is going on, the overall discourse that stains. (You need to) show the entire (Bedouin) population. There are university lecturers, there are judges, there is everything. In addition, there are excellent people in education, in academia, in the economy (field). There are also people who do bad things and that needs to be addressed, but you do not need to make generalizations. The other thing is, I think within the (Bedouin) communities, the relationship with the Jewish neighbors is excellent.
RADIO HOST: Taleb A’Sanna, Are those people criminals? Answer us.
Taleb A-Sana: There can be an arguments, I saw the video clip, I saw the argument (between the officer and the Bedouin). I don’t like the tone, I don’t like how the tone sounds, that’s not the way to hold a discussion, but it’s an argument with curses.
RADIO HOST: Taleb A’Sanna, Are those people criminals?
Taleb A-Sana: No, I didn't see criminals, I saw an argument. I saw angry people. I don’t know what was behind it.
RADIO HOST: And you say that if we don’t all take care of the lack of quality, as you define it - it will blow up in our face like in the US.”
Taleb A-Sana: I agree with you, 100%
RADIO HOST: That’s what you said.
Taleb A-Sana: I agree with you.
RADIO HOST: Okay. Taleb A-Sanaa, Tal Lev-Ram, thank you very much.


"If we don't deal with the criminal bubble in the Negev - we will have to conquer it in a decade"
Erez Segal (right-wing radio presenter) interviewed Brigadier General Zvika Vogel, former commander of the Northern Command and the Southern Command's Chief of Staff, and Yariv Oppenheimer, former secretary general of Peace Now, on 103 FM, following the video in which Bedouin invade a military fire zone and attack IDF officers. (Maariv wording.-OH) (103FM/Maariv)
The military man, who is well acquainted with the population in question, argued that the problem had deep roots and had to be addressed [through law enforcement - OH] before it gets out of control. "Not a small number of residents in these communities choose voluntary criminal pursuits, they aren’t pushed there. Therefore, not all the blame is on the state - but also on the citizens," said Vogel.
Erel Segal (ES): If I enter the IDF Kirya Headquarters and steal a metal rod, they'll arrest me won't they?
Yariv Oppenheimer (YO): They will call the police. The soldier has authority over you only if you signify a threat to life in that moment and in a terror incident.
ES: That’s not true. He has authority. It’s an IDF base. And they have to protect the base.
YO: Only in danger of life. You only shoot if in life threatening danger . That’s the order I received throughout my whole service. Maybe i was in a different army.
Zvika Vogel (ZV): Maybe you were in a different army or a different period. We would wake up almost every night, in the morning we would identify, if it was a pig or wolf trying to reach the fence, so nobody tried to reach it. A large part of the stolen military equipment is used afterward against us. I want to know if anyone is ready for a situation where they will steal from someone who is holding a machine gun and will use it tomorrow morning to kill our soldier.”
YO: I want statistics, there’s a difference between stealing a tent and a weapon. And these weapons are used between the Beduoin against each other.
ZV: It’s used against us.
YO: Do you have statistics?
AS: Drug smugglers fired at soldiers and announced they would continue because they needed to continue their work.
ZV: I don’t want to say anything bad against Bedouin…I say that a criminal bubble is developing with a potential for explosion in the Negev...If we do not address it, in a decade we will have to conquer the Negev.
YO: The one who needs to deal with it, is not just the police. Whoever thinks crime needs to be solved with power is just shooting himself in the foot—
ZV: I’ll tell you what I saw yesterday —
YO: What you saw yesterday was the result of a process. What you saw yesterday was the most wretched communities in the state of Israel, with the most miserable amount of (government) investment, at the bottom of the economic priorities. That’s what you saw. That’s the result.
…
YO: Organized crime is also prevalent in other groups and populations in Israel.


On the freeze of reunification law, thereby banning Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens from getting official status if they live in Israel -  Zehava Galon: "Stop being paranoid"; Radio host Erel Segal: "You are naive"
Former Meretz chairwoman spoke to the radio host  following a tweet on Twitter in which she wrote that the state should approve family unification for Palestinians: “You cannot have class one and class two citizens….My argument is it is inconceivable that for 17 years, the Knesset keeps extending the emergency situation on an issue that is so dramatic, in my view. It basically tells Arab citizens of the state: 'You don’t have the right to family reunification with Palestinians from the Territories, you cannot decide with whom you live, you cannot decide that you are raising your children here together.' We are in a situation whereby there are 25,000 families that are essentially torn, where one parent lives here and one lives there and doesn’t see their children. Whoever lives here without (an official) status has no ability to get an education or health insurance.” (103FM/Maariv)