On Monday afternoon, a ministerial committee on Bedouin society approved the proposal of Ministers Amichai Shikli and Yariv Levin, according to which every Bedouin family will be entitled to territory from the state under the auspices of efforts to regulate each household and not a mother's home.
The decision reflects a dramatic change in direction in the policy of allocating land for the purpose of regulating the Bedouin diaspora, since until now each family was entitled to an additional allocation of land according to the mother's home, which in practice served as an incentive to continue the phenomenon of polygamy, which harms women and children.
Minister Amichai Shikli, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The ministerial committee approved the proposal, which will be submitted to the government for approval soon and will align itself in terms of the state's conduct vis-à-vis Bedouin society.
This is another part of Minister Shikli's regulatory plan, when at the previous meeting of the committee, additional measures were approved regarding Bedouin settlement, as well as for the fight against polygamy and budgeting for enforcement and information.
The government's decision states that "the scope of the compensation for a family unit in which a man maintains a joint household with several women will amount to only one unit of entitlement, similar to the entitlement of a family unit in which a man maintains a joint household with one woman, while the allocation of rights in the lot will be made in equal parts to all individuals of the family unit."
Severe polygamy problem in the Bedouin sector, photo: Dudu Greenspan
To illustrate, today every Bedouin family that wishes to regulate its status on state land is entitled to a state-funded land cell and an additional NIS 200,500 for development, a total of NIS <>.
A catalyst for families who did not settle
The decision has additional significance, since it is expected to come into effect only in two years – during this time, the Anti-Polygamy Unit hopes: it is expected to serve as a catalyst for existing polygamous Bedouin families in the diaspora who have not regulated their settlement on state land, to do so under the existing conditions (space for each mother's home). Those who do not do so in the next two years will be forced to do so afterwards under the new conditions approved by the state.
Director of the Unit Against Polygamy Dina Dominitz told Israel Hayom that "this is a very important step in the fight against polygamy, as a phenomenon that causes very serious harm to women and children.
Office of the State Comptroller
It is inconceivable that the state will speak with two voices: it will be against polygamy on the one hand, and on the other it will be required to treat every woman. The Israel Land Authority already operates in this manner on land with natural growth for the Bedouin and allocates land only according to household. This amendment is intended for all systems to provide a uniform response.
A significant move that promotes equality
"A month ago, we passed a government decision by the Ministry of Justice in which budgets will be provided for legal aid in polygamy and funding for a campaign to raise awareness against the phenomenon. In addition, with the participation of the Ministry of National Security, 14 standards were allocated for enforcement, and a National Insurance team was established to examine the incentives in the allowances in order to correct them as well."
Minister Shikli said at the meeting: "From the day I took office as commissioner, among other things, of the Bedouin Authority, I have made it a top priority to set the goal of the government's struggle against polygamy. The current move, which I had the privilege of co-leading with Minister Levin, will negate one of the most significant incentives for the offense of polygamy, and will strengthen the protection of women and children."
Bedouin women (the subjects have no connection to the article), photo: Dudu Greenspan
Levin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Levin, said, "The move we are advancing today, led by Minister Shikli, will significantly help deal with the phenomenon of polygamy and its negative consequences. This is done while neutralizing the significant economic incentive of receiving plots according to "mother home" as it was until now, and switching to equal allocation by household.
This is another important layer in the fight against polygamy and its negative consequences, joining other measures promoted by the Ministry of Justice that have already been approved by the Ministerial Committee. We will continue to work together with determination to correct this grave social injustice."
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