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Two killed, MK injured in clashes over Bedouin home demolitions

[ssba]

Two people were killed and several injured early this morning after an apparent car ramming and riots surrounding planned home demolitions in a Bedouin village in southern Israel.

The violence occurred at the contested, unrecognised Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran, where Israeli security forces arrived to enable the court-ordered demolition of several homes. As demonstrators arrived, a vehicle drove into Israeli officers, who opened fire, killing the assailant.

A police statement said: “A vehicle driven by a terrorist from the Islamic Movement intended to strike a number officers and carry out an attack. The officers responded and the terrorist was neutralised.”

The driver was named as Yacoub Abu al Kiyan, a school teacher who was reportedly involved in the Islamic Movement. Police said they are investigating whether “the terrorist was influenced by ISIS”. However, some demonstrators have claimed that the incident was not an attack and that al Kiyan lost control of the vehicle after Israeli forces opened fire.

The other fatality has been identified as police officer. Sgt. Maj. Erez Levin.

Rioting also took place at the scene. Several people were injured, including the chairman of the Joint Arab List, MK Ayman Odeh, who was taken to hospital for treatment.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said: “I hope that this day will not mark a turning point in relations between Bedouin and the state authorities… Violence and terror will not prevail over the law.”

Umm al-Hiran has long been a focal point for clashes over re-housing Bedouin settlements in the Negev region of southern Israel. Residents were relocated to Umm al-Hiran from their original encampment in 1956 but were never granted ownership of the land. Evictions were ordered following plans to build a new town on the site, with residents offered 800-square meter family plots nearby.

Last January, the High Court rejected a final appeal by residents, concluding that since the Bedouins could theoretically live in the new town, the demolitions did not constitute discrimination.