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Israeli Arabs protest against displacement

Bedouins living in Israel's southern Neguev Desert protest against the Israeli government's policy
Bedouins living in Israel's southern Neguev Desert protest against the Israeli government's policy

Thousands of Israeli Arabs have protested in southern Israel against a Government plan to move them from their villages.

The authorities approved a plan last month to vacate 36 Arab communities that Israel does not recognise.

The protesters accuse the government of seeking to uproot them and build homes for Jewish people on their land.

They say 30,000 Arabs are at risk of displacement.

Meanwhile, Israel has closed off all crossing points with the West Bank for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The army said in a statement that all crossings would remain closed until Saturday evening due to the festival, which starts at sundown on Friday, though exceptions could be made for people who needed medical attention.

Israel systematically closes crossing points with the West Bank on its main holidays, for fear of attacks.

Gaza, run by the Islamist Hamas movement since June 2007, is shut down even more tightly.

Yom Kippur is devoted to prayer and fasting. During the festival air traffic, public transport and radio and television programmes are completely cut off.