Unrecognised Bedouin villages vulnerable if pandemic hits

Published: 31 March 2020

Last updated: 4 March 2024

Invisibility also a problem for Arab towns, which have only 1% of confirmed cases in Israel. Reasons may include lack of access to tests and fear of stigma

If pandemic hits, unrecognised Bedouin villages could ‘become like northern Italy’ (972)
Denied basic services, the Naqab's unrecognized villages are not equipped to deal with the coronavirus — and the Israeli government is not stepping in.

Israel's coronavirus blind spot: the Arab community (Haaretz)
Just 1% of confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel are found in Arab cities and towns. Reasons may include lack of access to tests, fear of stigma and the fact that infection is more common in upper classes

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Photo: An unrecognised Bedouin village in the northern Negev (Kobi Gideon/Flash 90)