Finding sources of income

Unemployment among the Jahalin tribe is as high as 70%, and this rate has increased since October 7, following the revocation of work permits in Israel for some family members. At the same time, the establishment of Jewish farms with the aim of taking over areas and preventing grazing has further reduced the communities’ livelihood options.

Over the years, the Friends of the Jahalin have worked to strengthen economic resilience and promote diverse sources of livelihood, including through:
Employment pilot: locating and integrating Bedouin workers in the hotel industry in the Dead Sea region.
Local tourism development: traditional Bedouin hospitality and a restaurant (further details in the “Tourism Development” tab).
Cooking workshops and women’s creative projects that encourage entrepreneurship and income.

An example of such an initiative is Fatma Jahalin’s restaurant in the Abu al-Hilu community: Fatma and her family transformed a compound near their home into an authentic restaurant for travelers in the area. With the help of advertising and support from Friends of the Jahalin, the restaurant provides Fatma and her family with a vital source of income.
Two major initiatives promoted in recent years are a milk and pasteurization center and a beehive project, as detailed separately.