A solemn weekly cabinet meeting took place at Sde Boker commemorating Ben-Gurion's death. The government decided on the establishment of two new settlements - Hiran, which will be erected on the village of Umm al-Hiran where 500 Bedouin are living, and the city of Kasif, intended for the haredim (ultra-orthodox Jews). Inhabitants of Umm al-Hiran are making other plans for their village, even though they have received eviction orders. Some residents have appealed to the High Court, which has yet to convene and rule on this issue, but the government has already decided. It's important to stress that Umm al-Hiran was settled by the [Israeli] military government in the 50s' after evicting residents from their original lands. Today they [Bedouin residents] risk eviction for a second time in order to erect a new Jewish community. During the cabinet meeting, a quiet protest took place where three protesters were arrested.
