The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, commonly referred to as the Israel-Hamas war, has sparked renewed interest in the topic of Indigenous Peoples in the Middle East. The war has brought to the forefront discussions about who is Indigenous to Israel and Palestine and the rights that come with this distinction. This article aims to delve into the definition of Indigenous Peoples and shed light on the internationally recognized Indigenous groups in Israel and Palestine.
Discussions regarding Indigenous Peoples typically center on groups in North and South America whose ancestors lived in the Americas before colonization. Most people associate Indigenous Peoples with colonizers or settlers. Only associating Indigenous Peoples with groups impacted by colonization or settlers provides a narrow view of Indigenous Peoples, which excludes many people who are currently considered Indigenous. Creating a definition of Indigenous Peoples that neatly fits globally across cultures and time is challenging. This challenge is one of the reasons there is no global consensus on the meaning of Indigenous Peoples.
Ancient Jaffa stone building with blue door.
Current Working Criteria
Instead of a single definition, global institutions have established criteria for identifying Indigenous Peoples. According to the United Nations, Jose R. Martinez Cobo’s Study on the Problem of Discrimination against Indigenous Populations is the most widely used description of what it means to be Indigenous. This definition is quite comprehensive and includes factors such as historical continuity, distinct cultural identity, and non-dominance in society.
“Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing on those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal system.
This historical continuity may consist of the continuation, for an extended period reaching into the present of one or more of the following factors:
a. Occupation of ancestral lands, or at least of part of them
b. Common ancestry with the original occupants of these lands
Culture in general, or in specific manifestations (such as religion, living under a tribal system, membership of an indigenous community, dress, means of livelihood, lifestyle, etc.)
Language (whether used as the only language, as mother-tongue, as the habitual means of communication at home or in the family, or as the main, preferred, habitual, general or normal language)
Residence in certain parts of the country, or in certain regions of the world
f. Other relevant factors.
On an individual basis, an indigenous person is one who belongs to these indigenous populations through self-identification as indigenous (group consciousness) and is recognized and accepted by these populations as one of its members (acceptance by the group).
This preserves for these communities the sovereign right and power to decide who belongs to them, without external interference.”
Israel & Palestine Indigenous Groups
International institutions use the criteria mentioned above to identify Indigenous Peoples. For instance, The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs has used these criteria to create 'The Indigenous World 2022’, a publication that lists groups that have gained global acceptance as Indigenous. A group's inclusion in this list signifies that it has been recognized by international institutions and the global community as Indigenous.
‘The Indigenous World 2022’ states, “Israel’s Arab Bedouin citizens are Indigenous to the Negev (Naqab, in Arabic) desert” and “the Ja- halin Bedouin, together with four other tribes from the Negev Desert (al-Kaabneh, al-Azazmeh, al-Ramadin and al-Rshaida)” are also Indigenous. The Bedouin communities, known for their nomadic lifestyle and rich cultural heritage, are the only people in the Middle East to have gained international recognition as Indigenous Peoples.
Desert Bedouin Camp in Israel Skyline Aerial shot.
Discussions about Indigenous Peoples in Israel and Palestine often revolve around the question of whether Israelis or Palestinians are Indigenous to the land. It's important to note that the only groups that have gained international consensus as Indigenous to the Middle East are the Bedouin communities in Israel and Palestine. This recognition underscores the importance of respecting the self-identification of Indigenous Peoples and their right to decide who belongs to their communities.
"Bedouin Wedding Procession" in the Jerusalem section of the Pike at the 1904 World's Fair. Jessie Tarbox Beals, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Stay tuned for our upcoming post, ‘The Creation of the Land of Canaan: A Journey Through Time,’ in which we will continue to explore the history and culture of indigenous peoples in the Middle East.
Contact us at info@bellbeanglobal.com for a detailed historical and legal analysis of the Israel - Palestine conflict, to schedule training for your Organization, or for public speaking engagements.
References:
"The Indigenous World 2022." IWGIA. The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, April 1, 2022. https://www.iwgia.org/doclink/iwgia-book-the-indigenous-world-2022-eng/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJpd2dpYS1ib29rLXRoZS1pbmRpZ2Vub3VzLXdvcmxkLTIwMjItZW5nIiwiaWF0IjoxNjUxMTM5NTg1LCJleHAiOjE2NTEyMjU5ODV9.jRnv3PeantfRZtJg4jph8xdshK5Mh25Z3hlcPs9As_U.
"Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Voices." United Nations. The United Nations, Accessed December 22, 2023. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/5session_factsheet1.pdf.