Ottomans founded in 1900 and which is 11 kilometers from Al-Araqeeb – refuting the Beduin's claims that the land could not have been Mawat because it was both cultivated and next to a settlement. The State presented an aerial shot of the place which they said proved that the Al-Araqeeb area had no cultivated land during the British mandate period. The bedouin presented aerial photographs from 1945 onwards which they said showed extensive cultivation. The verdict was presented by Judge Sarah Dovrat in the Beersheba District court on March 15, 2012. Based on the experts' testimony and the presented documents, the judge ruled in favor of the State, saying that the land was not "assigned to the plaintiffs, nor held by them under conditions required by law," and that they still had to "prove their rights to the land by proof of its registration in the Tabu" (Israel Lands Authority). The judge said that the Bedouin knew they were supposed to register but did not. She said, "The state said that although the complainants are not entitled to compensation, it has been willing to negotiate with them," and that "it is a shame that these negotiations did not reach any agreement." The court also ordered the Bedouin to pay legal costs of 50,000 NIS (approximately U.S. $13,500). In its ruling, the court criticized the expert on the behalf of the plaintiffs, stating that his testimony lacked a sufficient factual basis value and reliable basis. In addition, the court held that the Bedouins' own internal documentation indicates they were well aware of the legal requirement to register the lands in the Land Registry, but chose not to do so. The judge affirmed that the practice of removal of encroached settlements carried out by the State is acceptable and legal. In spite of the court ruling, the Al-Araqeeb residents continued to erect structures at the site. On April 23 and May 23, 2012, Al-Araqeeb was razed again. It was demolished for the 49th time in April 2013. In 2014, "Israeli authorities allegedly issued eviction orders to dead people" in Al-Araqeeb. See also Negev Bedouin Regional Council of Unrecognized Villages Blueprint Negev References External links Full text of court judgement Seth Frantzman, Presentation to Regavim about Negev Dispute resolution Territorial disputes Bedouins in Israel Negev Southern District (Israel)