Who are the Palestinian Bedouins?
The Palestinians are divided according to three classes: town or city dwellers, villagers, and Bedouins. Because of the way of life and tradition, Bedouins are distinguished from urbanized dwellers and villagers by their social structure, which is based on their tribe or ashira. Although Bedouins are known to live a nomadic way of life, moving from one place to another according to their needs for water and pastoral land, the Palestinian Bedouin tribes settled, continued a semi-nomadic life, and retained their traditional social structure. Palestinian Bedouins are part of Palestinian society, and they belong to the land naturally, physically, and economically.
Traditionally the Bedouins have subsisted by farming and raising herds, but Bedouin social life dramatically shifted due to occupation and military rule. The Bedouins struggled for equality, recognition, and social justice.