A four-year program to settle 10, 000 semi-nomadic Israeli Beduins from the Negev in urban areas will begin soon, it was reported here today. Some 15, 000 Israeli Beduins now roam the Negev. in recent years, they have suffered considerably because of drought damage to pastures for their camel and cattle herds.
The 10, 000 to be settled in urban sections will get new housing at a cost of 11, 000, 000 pounds and will be given permanent employment. The 5, 000 who will remain in the Negev also will get permanent housing in areas best likely to assure year-round grazing for their herds.
Half of the costs of transfer and housing will be a Government grant and the rest will be provided as a long-term loan. The decision on which Beduins will remain in the Negev and which will go to cities will be made by the Beduins themselves. Areas selected for resettlement include Lydda, Ramleh, Beersheba and Jaffa,
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