Negev Bedouin: From Nomads to Agro-pastoralists to Urbanites

There are approximately 330,000 Bedouin in the Negev Desert. Traditionally, Bedouin were nomadic pastoralists relying on camels, sheep and goats for their livelihood. Today about 77% of the population live in authorized settlements and 23% live in rural, non-authorized villages. Less than 7% of the Bedouin rely on livestock production as the main livelihood, as most Bedouin men have entered the wage labour market and have abandoned raising livestock. Nonetheless, camels, sheep and goats are still very important in their traditions and lifestyle, and many Bedouin families still raise some livestock. Bedouin own approximately 250,000–350,000 sheep and goats and 4000 camels. Over the years Bedouin have shown marginal profits and even losses in raising livestock; however, household heads persist in raising camels, sheep and goats, mainly: (1) to preserve the traditional Bedouin lifestyle; (2) as a claim to the land; (3) as income, including household dairy products and meat; and (4) as a means to save money. Bedouin are integrating into the Israeli urban economy and lifestyle while maintaining many of their cultural traditions. A small number of households will continue to derive their main livelihood from livestock.