The inhabitants of Arab al-Jahalin live between the foothills and valleys stretching from the east of Jerusalem to Jericho city. The Bedouin tribe has been suffering from displacement for 60 years.
Eid Jahalin a spokesman for five communities living in Khan al-Ahmar area in the outskirts of Jerusalem said that nearly 200 people from Arab al-Jahalin live in this area in addition to 5 nearby communities to the east of Jerusalem bringing the total number to about 1600 Bedouins.
Jahalin told the PIC that the residential communities were established in 1953 in Khan al-Ahmar area which was chosen as a home after the displacement from the Palestinian land occupied following the creation of Israel in 1948 for being close to the water resources in Wadi Qelt and Deir al-Roman.
He pointed out that the animal wealth and the products marketing have declined in the area due to the regular closures and attacks by the Israeli occupation forces.
These communities are surrounded by a number of Israeli settlements including Kfar Adumim Michele Adumim Mitzpe Yeriho and Elon. The Israeli occupation authorities deny them basic services within a scheme to transfer them to Nuway’imah area north of Jericho.
Al-Jahalin is a Bedouin tribe whose inhabitants were displaced in the Nakba in 1948 but did not join the Palestinian cities or villages because of the Bedouin lifestyle they live.
Israel attempts to clamp down on more than 5 Bedouin communities in the Jordan Valley and expel them to other places within a new-old scheme. However these communities have not succumbed to the expulsion orders.
