( CNN ) -- Israel has halted a plan that would have displaced tens of thousands of Bedouins in the southern part of the country . The controversial plan would have involved destroying `` unrecognized '' villages in the Negev , and resettling the displaced Bedouin citizens into `` recognized '' villages . Benny Begin , a former lawmaker who helped construct the plan , said Thursday it does not have enough votes in the Knesset , the Israeli parliament , to move forward . The Prawer Plan was based on an effort to better integrate Israel 's Bedouin population into Israeli society . Following recommendations of a committee chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Eliezer Goldberg , the Israeli Cabinet approved a plan in 2011 . The Cabinet also approved more economic development in the Bedouin sector of the Negev , the government said at the time . But the plan to displace Bedouins sparked anger . Last month , Israeli riot police broke up a demonstration comprising more than 1,000 people who were protesting . According to Israeli sources , more than 40,000 Bedouins would have been affected by the plan ; Bedouin elders estimate the total at more than 70,000 . In a statement Thursday , Begin said he has suggested that the law be halted , but efforts to develop the Bedouin communities in the Negev continue . Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu `` accepted my suggestion , '' he said .
It was a controversial plan that would have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians . The plan , which displaced the Bedouins , did not get enough support in parliament . The aim was to integrate the historic farming community more into Israeli society .