I think this is a great Idea, great concept especially for the Bedouins. Hopefully the practice will spread to other areas and uses.

But I question the true purpose of the exercise. The children really need the school, that appears to be fact. But why did they really make it a point to proceed with the project, purposefully and knowingly, without pursuit of a building permit? Are they simply looking for confrontation? Is the true purpose of this nothing more than to cause a rift, controversy?

Sometimes you really need to question the true motives of people.

I can see it now-- the government will tell them the building was built illegally. They will also say-"if we allow this type of construction here without a permit--where will it happen next and where will it stop!

It would be much easier to follow the rule of law ! But some people just don't get it-–or can't be bothered with something as trivial as the law.

The Beduin of the Judean and Negev Deserts are a nomadic people who, over time, have become more sedentary. Their encampments spring up wherever they decide to put them and their tents soon become metal shacks and eventually concrete houses, all being built without permits.

They then complain that they have no facilities and that they are therefore discriminated against by the Israeli government.(Although plenty of them have satellite dishes!)

It is strange that the NGOs involved in building the school, who receive European government funding, and other anti-Israel personalities, have no issue with these illegal settlements being built on land which may become part of a Palestinian state, while they are quick to criticized every legal Jewish settlement.

The Beduin are not Palestinians.

This attitude is contradictory and quite honestly, hypocritical.
In fact, it is proof of the political agenda of all these groups.

Miriam, i agree with you. I have seen the Beduin in the Sini and the Negev, and i find it very hypocritical as well that they are permitted to settle anywhere they wish, with no complaints from any government organisation.

Of course Filipe, its all part of a BIG SCHEME, a plot.. a trap to make Israel look bad!!...Maybe the Bedouins did ask for a building permit and been indefinitely pending. The reporter said the Bedouins did not "get" a building permit. One will interpret as..they did "request", but did not get..Meanwhile, the kids travel long ways (risking their lives) getting to school.. so the project moved forward regardless.

Then again,..they are Bedouins, Arabs! (non Jews)..with a splash of brown...Why rush? I mean Its only a silly lasting permanent building permit...will only make them put roots and traditions deeper into the earth that God promised to someone else!...Does a Bedouin's unconventional life style scare the nuts out of you..

CNN,

No thanks for the editing! But at least you must have taken note.

Hope,

Have you nothing but juvenile comments on the subject???

I have a splash of brown too!!!-so none of your snide childish remarks makes a bit of sense as it relates to my comments on the subject of this blog. Using this in an attempt to gain either sympathy or favor is nothing more than BS-it simply doesn't cut it !

As far as a Bedouins lifestyle goes- I couldn't care less-they can wander to wherever they like, they've been doing it for thousands of years. They just need to deal with the ramifications of squatting on someone else's property from time to time. The difference today is, the vast majority of them now call themselves Palestinians.

It's not much different where I live the local Ciganos-Gypsies-- I see them daily-splash of brown included. Every once in while they pitch camp in the wrong place and end up getting chased off-that's the way it is.

But you know what???-- Here they're not permitted to attend the public schools !!!! Do I think it's right? ? No ! But that's the way it is-–so let's not be whining and crying and playing the race card when it comes to the Bedouins living in the West Bank-–they need to follow the same rules as everyone else ! They've actually got better off than a lot of the Ciganos or Roma or Gypsies-– however you prefer to call them- who live in the EU countries.

Hypothetically speaking, if these same Bedouins were of Jewish origin..most likely they would have been catered to schools on wheels, (portable air-conditioned trailers) to support and preserve their nomadic ancient way of life. They would be viewed as the blessed children of God...who have been roaming the Desert for thousands of years..

The segment above clearly shows how poorly a race of another faith and ways of life are looked down at..by the Israeli authority, as one of our caring loving member of this blog reminds us, "squatting on someone else’s property"..Might as well refer to them as animals! Feel free!!.. The funny thing, in reality, it is the Eastern/European migrants whom are the real squatters, squatting (settling illegally) on Arab/Palestinian/Bedouin Land...Go figure.

Hope,

It may be possible that some of the Beduin are of Jewish origin, having been forced to convert to Islam as the religion spread across the region.

In any case, the Beduin in the under Israeli rule have to go to school and education levels are improving all the time.

Within Jewish Israeli society, there are sub-groups who argue that they are also descriminated against and lacking in adequate facilities.
When a group has freedom of speech and access to lobbying groups then their complaints will be voiced and heard. Such is democracy.

It is for this reason that these stories make news and you get to hear and consequently judge Israel as you do.

When did you last hear about Arab governments forcably transfering Beduin to clear land for big development projects?
Or the Gypsies/Romani/travellers etc being forced off fields in Europe?
It's happening all the time, but it never makes the news.

Hope,

It's been proven repeatedly that there has been a Jewish presence in Judea thousands of years before the Arabs migrated there. Besides, why is it so terrible that one race of people takes care of their own?

It is not the fault of the Israelis that Arabs allow their brothers to live in poverty and force them to live in refugee camps.

Is it nothing more than your jealousy which causes you to be critical of the fact that the Jewish people care for their own??

By definition--there is no such thing as Bedouin land.
By definition- Arab land is Arabia

Palestinian land- - land was given to the Palestinian Arabs at the same time land was given to to the Jews. The the Jews said OK, the Palestinian Arabs said No Way. So, there they are today, by their own choice. Yet you try to make it out that someone took something from them! But the real funny thing is, the smarter bunch of the Palestinian Arabs took the offer and ended up with 73% of the entire British Mandate-everything east of the Jordan river.

But the most stupid and arrogant ones ended up with nothing and were put into camps by their Arab brothers in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt-where they still live today-61 years later !!! Yet you and they whine and cry and complain to the world that it is Israel who is the oppressor-- truly the biggest joke in the modern world !

The Palestinian Authority closed down on Wednesday the West Bank offices of the popular Arab satellite news channel Al Jazeera.

http://www.imemc.org/article/61121

*****************************************************************

Gee-–what's up with that???? Even the Israelis never shut down Al Jazeera--not even during the Gaza conflict!!

Looks like the PA is finally realizing they can't even trust their Arab brothers with reporting the unbiased and impartial truth !!!

Wow!!!

The Israelis will stop short of nothing to disrupt the lives and well being of the Palestinian people.

Poor Poor Palestinians

As if they already didn't have enough problems with population growth and overcrowding in Gaza as it is! They certainly don't need this kind of external assistance. They've got too many mouths to feed and not enough free welfare food being donated to keep them plump and active as it is.

I bet this is a secret plot to distract all the Hamas militant terrorists and get them worn down an weak so the IDF can launch a sneak attack !!

*************************************************************************

A Hamas official on Tuesday accused Israel of exporting to the Gaza Strip chewing gum laced with an aphrodisiac to "corrupt the young," according to a report in AFP.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1100104.html

What a hoot !!!!

These guys are too much!!!!

Hope

why don't you visit Gaza and see for youself how great your friends rule instead of taking Johnny A's word for it?

People often resort to playing the race card because their position is so weak and they know they have no valid arguments. I don't care if people are purple, those living on Israeli land need to follow Israeli law. If they don't like it, they should leave. Maybe they should go to the Palestinian homeland in Jordan. Whining that somebody "stole" their land so they shouldn't have to follow the law doesn't cut it. If somebody really stole your land, go to court and get it back. If you don't have a case, then it wasn't your land! Get over it. The "Big Lie" about somebody stealing their land has kept the Palestinians in Israel poor, stateless, despised, and violent for decades. They choose to live this lie.

There are such different ways of life. There are nomadic, simple living people and city, industrial people. There are good and bad points for both. There are males and females, rich and poor, races, religions, on and on. I figure differences make us more interesting. I hope so, but I get bored easily in general with stuff. But, we either learn to survive together or we don't. Changes happen. Hopefully they are for the good, but people are complicated. That probably makes us more interesting too.

The latest from the overcrowded impoverished Gaza

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-pictures-of-overcrowded-gaza.html

I still have problems understanding the economics of the ME. I keep hearing about the rich oil people. Oil is abundant in the ME. Why aren't there jobs for people in such a wealthy area in general?

WOW!! Filipe!..Am dazzled...nice pictures, but where is the proof they were taken in Gaza?

Anyone could go online and order half a dozen Hamas uniforms with bandanas, hire few Mexicans (willing to work for minimum wage) dress them up..drop them by the Tijuana
border (similar landscape if not identical!) and ask them to play Cowboys and Indians...then forward to Elder of Ziyon at 7:02 AM....But seriously Filipe, you ARE a winner...good job!! Ya Battal Enta!!

Hope,

Where's the proof that any pictures supposedly from Gaza actually come from there?

Hope,

Glad to see you can identify so closely with the issue-having your own problems along your own border with your group of terrorists. But, I know, you call them "drug cartels".

But you also address the issue in a similar fashion-you build an impenetrable wall between the US and Mexico. And in places, cut off the farmers from their fields and cattle from their traditional grazing lands. You use border patrols and security forces to keep out all of those without proper documentation.

But, I know, that's different, you do it in the name of law and order and safety for the civilians right !

Oh, but that's the same reason it's done in Israel-to keep law and order and safety fro the civilians !

Wow !! How about that !!!

Every Country on this planet has issues to deal with, and Yes, it may be..the Mexican drug cartels at our nation's southwestern border is one of many such dilemmas. Lucky for them, we (ARE) Mexico's biggest consumption in numbers and appetite!!! We are addicted to addictions..and so the world keeps going round...

But, lets not mix Apples and Oranges..
Filipe, where is the proof those pics were taken in Gaza? If I were a wealthy wicked Zionist..I easily could re-enact a photo to make it look believable and publish on an Anti-Arab-Hateful website to promote my own agenda...You see! Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to puff some magic dragon...

You don't give up do you?
"Where’s the proof that any pictures supposedly from Gaza actually come from there?"

miriam,
It is IMPOSSIBLE to recreate a photo of a demolished American school in Gaza, flattened by our special friends (Israelis) and say, this did NOT happen!!
On the other hand..a handful of boys dressed up in Hamas uniforms.. toying with guns sounds more of a joke!!..Anyways, Halloween is around the corner, I think I know what to look for this year...how about you?

No Hope,

Why don't you believe what is posted??

Is it that you don't trust the website??

Not on your "approved list".

I don't verify the sources of posts websites any more than you do, yet you don't seem to have problem the sites that you approve of. You only take issue with the sites that someone else posts from.

How odd !!!

Here's another bit of news from the same site!!! What kind of rubbish will Hamas dream up next to blame Israel for ??? What a hoot !!

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2009/07/evil-zionist-sex-gum-corrupting-gaza.html

But before you blow it off for being nonsense from a radical Zionist blogspot.-– Here's another link to the same whacked out Hamas BS !!

A Hamas official on Tuesday accused Israel of exporting to the Gaza Strip chewing gum laced with an aphrodisiac to “corrupt the young,” according to a report in AFP.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1100104.html

What a hoot !!!!

These guys are too much!!!!

But remember Hope-whenever you post a link to a website-always post the proof that the website is actually posting the truth !!!! Else no one should believe it !!

Hope,

If I were a wealthy, wicked Hamas leader or their supporters, I could re-enect a photo to make it look believable and publish in the international media to promote my own agenda.

Hope,

Have you heard of 'photo-shop'?

Reuters, Hamas, Iran know it very well.

How many times did Hamas attack and damage the American School in Gaza before the Gaza war?

When schools are booby-trapped with explosives by Hamas, they are destroyed when the explosives detonate.

Adobe Photoshop (Photoshop), one word...Been doing Photoshop since it was (3.0). Do the math.

miriam- Almost every other-school here in the US gets vandalized/damaged/attacked by worthless jobless lunatic youths with nothing better to do. I have no doubt Gaza embraces some of them as well.

Now, what does this have to do with Israel Bombing Flatting an American Institution meant to educate young minds who want to AVOID turning into worthless jobless and lunatics!. btw how's your suprehension level this morning? mine is !*&^%* work is calling, must earn a living, you want your US welfare check, no?

miriam- "When schools are booby-trapped with explosives by Hamas, they are destroyed when the explosives detonate."

OK, where is the proof ??..Can you please provide valid photos of Hamas, and I don't mean (lets dress to play photo op) engaging in booby trapping schools in Gaza...Otherwise, you can spent all day here convincing no one..

Hope,

The American International School is not an American institution and not US funded!!!!!!

I don't know if there are photos of Hamas laying explosives but on Youtube you can find the evidence and footage of the explosives laid out around schools.

Hamas are not vandals. They are terrorists who shot missiles into schools in Gaza and Israel.

Hope,

The IDF and the UN both have the proof, as well as AI, HMFIC. You should ask them to supply you with the proof you so desperately need.

Hope -

Why would anyone need to go to the trouble of faking pictures of Palestinian Islamic terrorists training? The Palestinians commit atrocities on a daily basis. There is no need to fake evidence when it is so abundant. It's like trying to invent artificial sand.

I guess the explosives that Israeli soldiers found in booby-trapped homes and schools during Operation Cast Lead just grew there by themselves. Maybe the Israeli's put them there to kill as many Israelis as possible – wait a minute – that doesn't make sense; that's what Hamas does.

Hope – Mexico does have issues. In the U.S. we know it. All we can do is try to help them and do our best. Maybe it's about our guns and stuff but we've always had them, a lot, and we want them. It's hard, but we work hard too. The good guys don't always win, but we do our best. The U.S. has issues too. We are very violent, basically. And aggressive. Go figure. We try to be very nice, but it is our nature. We don't send bottle rockets, we send nukes. That's a little scary. Nuke subs from other countries bump each other out in the ocean. That is reality. Starwars? There are outer space sites. But, the basic people need health care, hospitals and medicines. I've never not had them, but I know that some in the U.S. have gone without. That is my first priority.

I have no use for terrorists. They are destroyers. The world tries to move forward and care for the six billion people on the planet, and a few try to mess it up. Let them figure out a plan to feed, shelter, and provide medical care to six billion people. All are the same, just people. All deserve those things. I would love, love, love to hear the ME, terrorists plan to provide for all equally, even the slightly over fifty percent of the population – females. I am one.

I am just sick to death of lazy people, in general, who only want to herd goats and build bottle rockets. We need real answers to real problems.