Large Increase in Crackdowns on Illegal Construction in he Negev

Jerusalem, 17 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of National Security reported that there has been a large increase in enforcement activities of the Southern Directorate for the Coordination of Land Law Enforcement, the body responsible for concentrating and leading enforcement efforts against illegal construction and invasions of state territories in the south on behalf of the Ministry.

Such activities are largely attributed to Bedouin.

In 2024, there was a 58% increase in the number of demolitions of illegally built structures in the southern Negev- 5,231 illegal buildings and items were demolished (compared to 3,307 the previous year).

There was also a 183% increase in the return of state lands – 900 acres of state lands were returned to the public (compared to 300 in the previous year).