There aren’t very many Bedouins living in the Negev. All in all, they number close to 300,000 people, or 3% of Israel’s population. They are, however, one of the troubled groups in the region, afflicted by endemic poverty, low levels of education, and high rates of unemployment and crime.
One of the major problems facing the community is the dearth of housing. This can be attributed to the clan-based, nomadic structure of the traditional Bedouin community, which once wandered the region, but also to the shortage of settlements and neighborhoods that can address their distinct needs.
