November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

The men of Al Araqib pray. They say they want a normal life, and they just want to make their area beautiful. "The government just wants to gather the maximum of Arabs in the minimum of land. But we have our history here. We won't leave".

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Aziz, chief of the village (center):

"When the Israeli government started, in 1997, the new ministry 'Department of Negev and Galilee', headed by Shimon Peres, we thought that maybe the situation would change because Peres was a Nobel prize man. However instead, every year, from 1999 and until 2003, they sprayed us with Round Up weed killer. [They killed] the grass and over 200 sheep, 16 Arab horses and 2 camels. They want to kill the relationship between the Bedouins and the land".

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Sally is the wife of the mayor. Gathered in the plastic tarp are all of their belongings, included cooking utensils and a little bit of food, like canned tuna.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

The cemetery area of Al Turi is empty of animals. The Bedouins there only own 3 horses and a few ducks and chickens. They used to have sheep and camels. The sheep have been killed and the camels confiscated. Once, a camel caused a car accident. Since then, as soon as the soldiers see a camel in the desert, they take it and bring it to a "camel farm" that they have opened. They keep the camel there one month and send us the bill for the food and care. If we cannot pay after this month, the camel is lost forever. And they then sell us the camel milk that we love so much.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Sally:

"Before Israel chased us away, we worked, cultivated our land, had sheep, chickens, vegetables, trees. Our home was very simple, but we had everything, including a kitchen and toilets. Today we have nothing, we cannot take a shower everyday. They made the area and our homes illegal. Because Israel says our way of life is not normal. I asked [the Israelis], how can I make my home legal? [They had] no answer."

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

The entrance of Al Turi cemetary in Al Araqib. 22 families used to live here. Since July 27th, 2010, the " Black Day" as the Bedouins call it, only 12 people are still living in Al Araqib, confined in the graveyard. The "Black Day" is the day where the village was totally demolished by the Israeli army. They came at 4am, destroyed 65 houses, uprooted 4.500 olive trees and 700 fruit trees and killed dozens of chickens.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Maryam is the dean of Al Araqib. She has suffered all kinds of harassment since 1948 at the hands of the Israeli army and various Zionist gangs. In her lifetime, Israeli authorities or vigilanties have destroyed or vandalized her home and land more than 70 times (33 of those raids took place after 2010).

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Saba plays with her daughter Araqib before she begins cooking dinner. Saba says: "I do nothing during the day except watching to see if the police or soldiers are coming so I can hide everything that wouldn't be already hidden among the graves".

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

The last time the army came to Al Araqib's cemetery was October 14, 2014. They took fridges and cars. Now the men live under the trees and sleep in the 2 cars that are left.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Saba lives in the graveyard with her husband, daughter, brothers, sisters, and grand-mother. Everyday, she hides all of their belongings among the graves to prevent the soldiers from confiscating them. Then, when night comes, she goes to take the carpets and blankets so the family can sleep.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

Araqib is 2 years old and a half. She is the youngest inhabitant of the graveyard of Al Araqib. She has been named after the village.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

The three youngest children of Al Araqib from left to right: Araqib (2 1/2), Mohamed (14) and Khaled (12). Mohamed and Khaled go by foot to school everyday in the recognized Bedouin village of Rahat.

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

On July 12th, 2014, after the Israeli army came and destroyed everything around the graveyard, they set up a military zone in the Negev, not far from Al Araqib. Police and army were present 24/7.

In September, the police left. Aziz, the chief of the village describes the current situation:

"They still come from time to time, look at what's happening and leave. Sometimes, they destroy something, took our clothes, blankets, carpets and any personal belonging."

November 12, 2014. Al Araqib, Israel.

In June 2014, the two families that are still living in Al Araqib decided to move into the graveyard. Before that, they actually lived next to it, but the army came anyway and destroyed everything they could. However, according to Aziz, the chief of the family, "the graves are like a border. The police don't intervene".