Consider the following statements with reference to the Bedouins, rece...
A popular video on social media shows local Israelis expressing their gratitude to a Bedouin commander for putting up an effective defence against Hamas fighters.
About Bedouin Arabs:
- The Bedouins are a nomadic Muslim Arab people who live mainly in the Negev desert of southern Israel.
- They have traditionally been pastoralists with no powerful or exclusive national affiliation, who would, until about a century and a half ago, wander the area between Saudi Arabia and the Sinai with their livestock.
- The Bedouin population in Israel currently numbers 210,000 individuals residing in various regions of the state, with a significant presence in the Negev desert in the South.
- How did the Bedouins come to join the Israel Defence Forces (IDF)?
- During the last several decades of Ottoman rule, the Bedouin began to settle into a largely sedentary life.
- Before the formation of Israel, groups of Bedouin were employed by early Jewish settlers to guard clusters of their communities in Palestine.
- During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948-49, many Bedouin provided valuable intelligence to the Jewish militias and the newly formed IDF, and some of them also fought against the Arab armies alongside the Jews.
- In the 1950s, Israel recognised a large number of Bedouin as its citizens and subsequently helped build settlements for them in the Negev.
- Many Bedouin continued to serve in the IDF, primarily in scouting or tracking units.
- In 1970, a Bedouin scouting unit was established in the IDF’s Southern Command, and similar units have since been established in other areas.
- In 1993, Israel inaugurated a memorial to Bedouin warriors on a hilltop in Galilee, bearing the names of 154 Bedouin soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the country.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
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Consider the following statements with reference to the Bedouins, rece...
Introduction:
The given statements are about the Bedouins, a tribal group that has been in the news recently. We need to determine the accuracy of these statements.
Explanation:
1. They are nomadic people who live primarily in Western Africa.
This statement is incorrect. Bedouins are not primarily found in Western Africa. In fact, they are predominantly found in the deserts of the Middle East, particularly in countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. They are well-known for their desert-dwelling lifestyle and extensive knowledge of desert survival.
2. They have traditionally been pastoralists with no powerful or exclusive national affiliation.
This statement is correct. Bedouins have a long history of being pastoralists, meaning they rely on herding animals such as camels, goats, and sheep for their livelihood. They move from one place to another in search of grazing lands for their animals. This nomadic lifestyle has allowed them to adapt to harsh desert conditions and sustain themselves.
Bedouins are known for their strong sense of independence and self-sufficiency. They have traditionally preferred to maintain their tribal affiliations rather than align with any particular nation-state. This is because their nomadic lifestyle often requires them to traverse national borders, making exclusive national affiliations difficult. They have their own social, cultural, and legal systems, and maintain a strong sense of identity and loyalty to their tribes.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the correct statement is the second one, which states that Bedouins have traditionally been pastoralists with no powerful or exclusive national affiliation. The first statement, stating that they primarily live in Western Africa, is incorrect as they are predominantly found in the Middle East.