Since 1948, unrecognized villages (all Palestinian in Israel have not been included in any development or infrastructure plan. As such, they do not receive any basic services from the government including electricity, running water, access roads, health and educational facilities. They are isolated and disconnected from the outside world. According to surveys conducted by the Association of Forty, there are more than 10 unrecognized villages in Israel with a population of more than 90,000 inhabitants.

Goals

• To gain official recognition for the dozens of Palestinian villages unrecognized by the state of Israel
• Stopping policies of eviction and destruction to the villages;
• To improve the living conditions in these villages by developing infrastructure and providing essential services, educational programs, lobbying and planning.

Main Activities

• Popular activities: such as demonstrations, tree planning and volunteer days;
• Lobbying: Presenting the problem of unrecognized villages to the Knesset and before official government bodies;
• Master Plans: Preparing Master Plans for the unrecognized villages. As a result of this long-term struggle, the Israeli government decided in 1995 to partially adopt these master plans by recognizing nine villages in the north: Ein Hod, Abu El-Heija, El-A'rian, Khawled, Dumedia, Humeira, Ras El-Ein, Kammaneh, Arab El-Na'im and Husseiniyeh;
• Service provision: providing basic services and initiating infrastructure projects such as kindergartens, clinics, improving and building roads, and other activities to enhance the quality of life in unrecognized villages;
• Networking: Developing a large network through which constant awareness raising activities take place around the world;
• Outreach: Publicizing this issue through the issuing of our newspaper, Sawt al-Qura, holding photographic exhibitions both locally and internationally, preparing documentary films; giving lectures, arranging study days and conferences.