 Only one woman was elected to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) by an Arab party over the last sixty years, since state independence.  There are no women in a position of leadership in the local government  90% of the Bedouin women are unemployed  Women are confined to the domestic and private domain and traditions such as polygamy are still common (in 2007, only 18.9% of Bedouin women worked outside the home, compared with 78.9% of Jewish women).  Highest illiteracy rate in Israel (between the ages 55-64, the illiteracy rate reaches 35%, and above that age it reaches 68%).  The accelerated modernization and urbanization process threatens Bedouin’s traditional way of life and livelihood, and causes a continuous marginalization Main issues affecting the Bedouin Community and its Women  Accelerated modernization and urbanization processes threatens Bedouin’s traditional way of life and livelihood  High Illiteracy Rates  Poor Access to Health Services  Harsh Patriarchal traditions and conservatism  Lack of organized community efforts and Internal Tribal conflicts  Limited economic development  Geographically remote  Poor transportation  Lack of trained human resources There are several strategies that could be implemented on a government level to improve the situation Major Recommendations – Government Level  Increase access to Health Services with a focus on women  Provision of sustainable of basic infrastructural services such as electricity and water supply to health services.  Increase logistical access to health services by constructing roads  Support grassroots NGOs in joint efforts to combat illiteracy  Increase access to early childhood education for young boys and girls in villages