Human, Society & Environmen Lab

Israel the indigenous discourse began quite recently focusing mainly on the Bedouin claim for recognition as the indigenous population of the Negev, in southern Israel. This article explores the development of the concept of indigeneity at the international level and presents accepted definitions for the term 'indigenous'. It also presents a brief history of Eretz Israel (the land of Israel), the various regimes, including the ancient Jewish presence as well as the Islamic and Ottoman legal heritage. The research distinguishes between the history of the Middle East and the territories 'discovered' by Europeans, where the indigenous concept was first applied. It relates specifically to the Bedouin of the Negev, their origin, and their dates of arrival in the Negev. We also explore the current situation and the individual land claims by part of the Bedouin for private ownership. The final section examines the question of whether the Negev Bedouin claim for recognition as an "indigenous people" is consistent with the main features and parameters of the accepted definitions. In light of the analysis, we argue that implementing the indigenous concept in Israel is inappropriate and that the Negev Bedouin claims are not compatible with prevailing notions of indigeneity.