audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - The West Bank is an Israeli-occupied, Palestinian territory that is home to approximately 17,000 Bedouin tribespeople. This population is comprised of five separate tribes who are traditionally nomadic and agro-pastoralist. These Bedouin originate in the Negev Desert but, following the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel, they were forced to move from the Negev and into an area west of the Jordan River, at that time administered by Jordan. Following the 1967 Six Day War, they found themselves under the administration of an Israeli government that has occupied the area known as the West Bank ever since. The current plight of these Bedouin is a tragic consequence of the occupation, under which they endure crippling poverty and degradation. Israel's introduction of a separation wall in 2004, and its expansion of illegal Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank have further pushed the Bedouin into small, slum-like camps, effectively ending their nomadic existence. The Israeli government does not permit the Bedouin to build permanent structures and the army - with little or no warning - regularly destroys their temporary ones under the pretext of a violation of the law. The future of the Bedouin throughout the West Bank is extremely uncertain. They are now facing a breakdown of their traditional culture and simply have nowhere left to go. Life has always been tough for these nomadic Arab tribes, but they now face a great challenge from the Israeli authorities settling Israeli citizens in the area.
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December 10, 2013 - Al Jiftlik, West Bank - A man carries tin sheets to help repair a dwelling that was nearly destroyed during the previous day's demolitions.
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Dec. 4, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - Children stand on the roof of a makeshift mosque that was destroyed the day before.
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Dec 4, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - A boy explores the ruins of his newly demolished home in the Bedouin camp of Al Auja. Israel's introduction of a separation wall in 2004, and its expansion of illegal Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank have further pushed the Bedouin into small, slum-like camps, effectively ending their nomadic existence.
© Gabriel Romero/Alexia Foundation/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
Dec. 4, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - A village elder in the ruins of his home in Al Auja that Israeli forces demolished the previous night.
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Dec 4, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - A dead sheep that had lived through the bulldozing of a pen that killed over 30 other sheep, only to die the next day from its injuries.
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November 25, 2013 - Wadi Meleh, West Bank - A barefoot girl crouches in the dust and rocks of her camp.
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November 27, 2013 - Abu Dahuk, West Bank - Children at play in the West Bank.
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Dec. 10, 2013 - Al Jiftlik, West Bank - Sheep feeding on dried palm fronds as a storm looms on the horizon that would later drop 4 feet of snow.
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Dec. 10, 2013 - Al Jiftlik, West Bank - A man takes a break from repairing an animal pen to roll a Bedouin cigarette, which consists of tobacco and cannabis.
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Dec. 21, 2013 - Al Ram, West Bank - The feet of one of the youngest victims of displacement. Most young Bedouin children do not have shoes.
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Dec. 21, 2013 - Al Ram, West Bank - Children have a hard existence in the camp at Al Ram.
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Dec 21, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - A Bedouin family is forced to live in their animal pen after the Israeli army destroyed their home in the West Bank.
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Dec. 28, 2013 - Ein Ayoub, West Bank - A boy sits atop a water can in front of the ruins of his family home, destroyed the day before.
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Dec 21, 2013 - Al Auja, West Bank - An elder of Al Ram stands in front of the Israeli-built separation wall, which has left his village only a small fraction of the grazing land it once had. Local Bedouin say the introduction of the wall has affected their lives perhaps more than anything else in the modern era.
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Dec 10, 2013 - Al Auja, Palestine, West Bank - A man of faith prays on the bare ground in the West Bank.
© Gabriel Romero/Alexia Foundation/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
