Four Bedouin towns in Israel will on Tuesday hold democratic elections for the first time, with local residents competing for the positions of local council head and council members, Haaretz reported Tuesday.
This signals the end of 13 years in which successive interior ministers appointed personal friends to head the Bedouin settlements, the Israeli paper added.
The Negev towns of Ksaife, Ararah, Lakia and Segev-Shalom Monday completed the necessary preparations for the historic votes, the daily said, adding that the police force has been beefed up to keep the peace. The nine candidates for local council heads are also being given special security.
Bedouins and the Druze are the only Israeli Arabs who are allowed to serve in the Israeli army - Albawaba.com
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