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Health & Human Rights Journal

http://www.hhrjournal.org/2014/07/01/depressive-symptoms-among-arab-bedouin-women-whose-houses-are-under-threat-of-demolition-in-southern-israel-a-right-to-housing-issue/

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Israel – Depressive Symptoms Among Arab Bedouin Women Whose Houses

Are Under Threat of Demolition in Southern Israel – Right to Housing

Nihaya Daoud and Yousef Jabareen

Abstract

Housing is a fundamental human right and a social determinant of health. According to international law, indigenous peoples are entitled to special housing and health rights and protections. In Israel, land disputes between the government and Arab Bedouins, an indigenous minority, have resulted in ongoing demolitions of Arab Bedouin homes, with thousands more homes threatened. While demolitions could expose this population to mental health problems, research linking house demolition and health is scarce.   In this paper, we draw on a human rights perspective to describe this housing instability and examine the association between the threat of house demolition and depressive symptoms (DS) among 464 Arab Bedouin women.  We conclude that having their house under threat of demolition is an important determinant of poor mental health among Bedouin women. Any efforts to decrease DS among these women will have to take place alongside efforts to stop this practice.

Introduction

Housing is a fundamental human right and a major social determinant of health.¹ The World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed housing a preexisting condition of health.² Given the importance of housing and recognizing their relative disadvantage, minorities and indigenous peoples are entitled to a special set of health and housing rights and protections under international law.³ In Israel, land disputes between successive governments and economically disadvantaged indigenous Arab Bedouin citizens have resulted in hundreds of house demolitions every year. Furthermore, thousands of other structures (houses and other buildings) are under threat of demolition.⁴ The government does not recognize Arab Bedouin ownership of many lands, does not allow Arab Bedouins to erect new structures on what are deemed state lands, and demolishes structures erected without official permits. Demolitions have increased dramatically over the past decade. In 2001, 45 homes were taken down in villages not legally recognized by the Israeli government.⁵ In 2011 there were more than 1000 demolitions, with thousands more structures currently at risk.⁶

The association between house demolition and mental health has received little attention. However, previous studies have linked displacement and relocation due to political conflict with high psychological distress and adverse mental health.⁷ In this paper, we first adopt a human rights lens to describe demolitions in Arab Bedouin communities in Israel. We then draw on place attachment theory to discuss the link between living in a house under threat of demolition and depressive symptoms among Bedouin women.