"Half of the Negev will be Palestinian": the staggering forecast for 2050

Hagai Reznik, head of the Riepman Institute for the Development of the Negev, warned this morning that Israel is losing sovereignty in the Negev, which constitutes 60% of the state's territory. Reznik claimed that by 2050 half of the Bedouin community will identify as Palestinian, and that partnership with the Arabs is equivalent to partnership with the Islamic Movement.

Hagai Reznik, head of the Riepman Institute for the Development of the Negev, warned this morning (Sunday) on the morning edition with Dana and Ron that the State of Israel is losing sovereignty and governance in the Negev, which constitutes 60% of the state's territory. Reznik claimed that 'we have lost all the arms of sovereignty, not just governance, of a Zionist state and a modern state in the Negev.' He emphasized that partnership with the Arabs is equivalent to partnership with the Islamic Movement, and that if the government becomes dependent on the votes of the Arab parties, the Negev will be in danger. Reznik presented a forecast that 'half of the Bedouin Negev in 2050 will be Palestinian in direct identity,' and added that 'have we gone mad to lose 60% of the State of Israel's territory? We will lose it to Palestinian affiliation, we will lose it to weapons that are equivalent in firepower to 50 infantry brigades.' The article does not include a response from Bedouin or official sources.