Negev Unites for Disability Rights

The Rahat Community Center, in partnership with the city’s Department of Social Welfare and with support from the Shalem Foundation, is organizing a remarkable festival dedicated to inclusion and diversity. This event, which promises to be the largest inclusive festival ever held in the Negev, aims to promote the integration of people with disabilities into the public space. It will take place over two days—Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29—from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Rahat Community Center.

A Rich, Festive, and Inclusive Program

The festival is open to the entire local community: children, parents, professionals, and of course, individuals living with disabilities. Throughout the two days, attendees will enjoy artistic performances highlighting disabled artists or those committed to inclusion; creative, interactive workshops for all ages and abilities; awareness and information booths led by local associations; cooperative games, musical entertainment, theater, and dance. In addition, a special open forum will provide a space for personal stories, inspiring testimonies, and life journeys to be shared.

The Bedouin population in Israel, primarily located in the Negev desert, numbers around 300,000. Among Bedouin children, approximately 9.1% live with a disability or chronic illness—higher than the rates among other Arab children (8.3%) and Jewish children (7.6%).

A Powerful Message: Inclusion is Everyone’s Responsibility

This festival is not just a celebration—it is a civic act and a call to action for a more just and accessible society. Organizers emphasize that the integration of people with disabilities requires the involvement of the entire community: families, institutions, schools, and social services.

“This festival is a bridge between worlds, a hand extended to those society sometimes forgets. It represents our shared desire to act for a city where everyone has a place,” said Mohammed Krenawi, one of the event’s organizers.

The Rahat Municipality and all the partners involved warmly invite residents to take part in this unique moment of connection and solidarity.

With initiatives like this festival, the city of Rahat reaffirms its commitment to building a more inclusive society—one where every citizen, regardless of their disability, can find their place in public life.

Caroline Haïat