thumb|Palestine Exploration Fund list of Bedouin tribes living West of the River Jordan in 1875. In the late 19th century, many Bedouin began transition to a semi-nomadic lifestyle. One of the factors was the influence of the Ottoman empire authorities who started a forced sedentarization of the Bedouin living on its territory. The Ottoman authorities viewed the Bedouin as a threat to the state's control and worked hard on establishing law and order in the Negev. During the First World War, the Negev Bedouin initially fought with the Ottomans against the British. However, under the influence of British agent T. E. Lawrence, the Bedouins switched side and fought against the Ottomans. Hamad Pasha al-Sufi (died 1923), Sheikh of the Nijmat sub-tribe of the Tarabin, led a force of 1,500 men who joined the Ottoman raid on the Suez Canal.
thumB|pAlestinE eXPLoRatIon Fund liSt of BEDouin TRIbes livINg WESt of THe RIver JordAn in 1875. in tHE late 19th ceNtuRY, manY beDouIN begaN trAnsiTion TO A sEmi-nomaDic lifeStyLE. oNE oF thE fActoRS WaS tHE influenCe oF The OTtOMan empire auThoritiES wHo sTARTeD a forCeD sEdentarIzation of THE bedouin Living on itS TerRitory. tHe OttOman auTHoritiES VIewed tHe bedOuin aS a thrEAT tO tHE state'S coNTrol aND Worked harD on establishing LAW anD order iN tHe negEv. duRinG the fIRsT WorLd war, The nEgev bedouin initialLy fOugHt with the ottOmanS againsT tHe BritIsH. HOwEvEr, unDer the inFlUEnCe Of British agenT T. e. LAWREncE, thE BeDouiNs swItched side aND FouGht agaINsT tHe OtToMaNS. hamaD pasHa aL-SuFi (dieD 1923), sheiKH of THe nIjmat SUb-trIbe oF thE TarabIN, leD a forcE of 1,500 men Who Joined The OtToman raid On the sUeZ Canal.