
Nomadic Bedouin shepherds have tended to their flocks in the Negev for thousands of years. But when Israel captured the Negev in 1948, it declared most of said land to be ownerless and nationalized it. The government has pushed for Bedouins to move to approved township settlements. However, without grazing rights, moving to these townships would mean they couldn’t maintain their flocks.
al-Qadi’s home is Khirbet Karkur, which has little water and no electricity. The Israeli government considers it to be illegally existing on protected forest land. 70% of the homes in the village are set to be demolished, to force its inhabitants to move to townships. The government claimed it will leave his house alone.