Egypt’s Sinai Bedouins fear Israel’s mass displacement of Gaza Palestinians
As Israel’s war on Gaza nears the end of a second month, Rehab Eldalil worries about reports of efforts by Israel to push the 2.3 million people of the besieged Gaza Strip into the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula – her ancestors’ home.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has publicly stated that Egypt will not allow a displacement of Palestinians, as it would mean “the end of the Palestinian cause” and a potential threat to Egypt’s national security. But news reports have suggested that Israel might offer to pay off some of Egypt’s vast public debt in exchange for allowing the forced displacement of people from Gaza into Sinai.
Eldalil, an Egyptian photographer and storyteller of Bedouin descent, worries that that kind of narrative “takes away the right of Palestinians to stay on their land, while promoting that Sinai is an empty desert for Palestinians to go to”.
It is not, and hasn’t been for centuries.
The 61,000sq km (23,500sq mile) triangle of land that bridges Africa and Asia is a popular tourist destination, a significant religious and historical site, and an important economic centre for Egypt. It is home to several oil and natural gas fields, as well as the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, which generates up to $9bn annually.
Tags
Who is online
132 visitors
Many so called advance countries could learn from the Indigenous Bedouins.
So what's the primary reason that other Arab countries are unwilling to admit the Palestinians/Bedouins within their borders?
Most countries have very large Palestinian population, Jordan for example has over 3 million.
The Bedouins are a totally different story in this article they are part of Egypt and have lived in the Sinai for over 1,000 years and in Israel there are over 200,000 who are Israeli citizens,
The article is about the Bedouins of the Siani who do not want millions of displaced Palestinians to take their land.
why would any non-israeli become involved with the israeli gov't in a land deal in that region?
I can't think of a good reason, but one never knows what can go on. Money is always a great motivator.
Why should Israel make deals with terrorists?
Seems like no country or other people want the Palestinians but there are people who protest for them.
Many countries have large numbers of Palestinians and cannot accept any more and yes there are some that don't want them and the Bedouins have an excellent point their area is limited and 3 to 5 million Palestinians would overrun them and displace them from their land.
Which countries can not accept more, and is that the same number who simply won't accept more?
I can get why the Bedouins are concerned. That being said, I really don't think that Egypt will put up with that and I think that Israel knows that.
I don't either but in the upside down world of the ME, anything is possible.