01In brief
Al-Batuf Regional Council is an Arab regional council in the Galilee, in Israel’s Northern District, with a partly Bedouin population. It comprises four villages in a non-contiguous jurisdiction, with Wadi al-Hamam situated 23 kilometres from the other three. The council emerged from the division of Nof HaGalil Regional Council and its Bedouin communities were included in a northern Israel development programme for 2011–2015.
02Overview and Location
Al-Batuf administers four localities: Uzeir, Rumane, Hamam and Rumat Heib.[6] These names also appear as Uzair, Rummana, Wadi al-Hamam and Rumat al-Hayb.[7] Its population includes Arab and Bedouin communities, and its jurisdiction lies in the Northern District.[1][2]
The council’s territory is not contiguous: Wadi al-Hamam is separated by 23 kilometres from the other three villages.[3] Limited jurisdictional area, unauthorized construction and the council’s recovery process have featured among its administrative challenges.[3]
03History
Nof HaGalil Regional Council was established in 1994 and subsequently divided, following an Interior Ministry decision, into Bustan al-Marg and Al-Batuf.[4]
On 15 May 2011, Government Resolution No. 3211 approved a programme to develop and strengthen Bedouin communities in northern Israel during 2011–2015, including communities within Al-Batuf.[5] The programme was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, northern Bedouin local council chairmen and other government ministries.[5] Its total budget was NIS 350 million for the participating communities collectively, not an allocation to Al-Batuf alone.[5]
The programme also included communities in the Zevulun, Ma’aleh Yosef and Jezreel Valley regional councils.[5] Investment across the participating communities covered education, sewage infrastructure and transportation; no separate Al-Batuf allocation was specified.[8]
Ahed Rahal became council head in 2018 and was re-elected in 2024 with 56 percent of the vote.[7] Before heading the council, he served in the Israel Police.[7]
04Demographics
A government dataset carrying an update year of 2019 recorded Al-Batuf’s total population as 8,225.[2] Locality-level figures updated to 2018 listed 3,200 residents in Uzeir, 1,995 in Rumat Heib, 1,473 in Hamam and 1,191 in Rumane.[6]
In 2022, Uzeir had 3,511 residents, accounting for 41.0 percent of the council’s population, while Rumat Heib had 2,217 residents, or 25.9 percent.[9] These figures appeared in a table covering urban localities with at least 2,000 residents in the survey year, rather than a complete listing of all four villages.[9]
Al-Batuf was placed in the lowest of ten socioeconomic clusters in a ranking reported in 2013 and based on the 2008 census.[10] That placement is a historical measure, not a current assessment.[10] The government dataset labelled with an update year of 2019 listed the council in socioeconomic cluster 2 and separately recorded a cluster-2015 value of 3.[2]
05Economy and Municipal Services
Education figures for 2018 recorded approximately 2,300 students in Al-Batuf, NIS 28 million in Ministry of Education funding and NIS 27 million in council education expenditure.[1] An analysis of those figures calculated municipal investment at minus NIS 442 per student, meaning that education spending was NIS 442 per student below the ministry’s allocation.[1] The analysis derived the council’s own contribution from education revenue and expenditure data before dividing the result by student numbers.[1]
In 2020, Rahal described the council as financially weak, operating under a recovery plan and with an appointed accountant, and lacking income sources such as businesses and industry.[1] A government profile likewise identified the council’s recovery process, limited jurisdictional area and unauthorized construction among its administrative challenges.[3]
Rahal’s stated priorities included strengthening education from early childhood through secondary school, improving infrastructure and municipal services, and promoting economic development and employment.[7] He also identified planning and construction, expanded welfare services, and improvements to public spaces and recreation areas as priorities for his tenure.[7]
06Peacock Cull
In May 2026, dozens of peacocks were shot in Uzair in an operation that drew criticism.[11] The council said it had received dozens of complaints, estimated the birds’ number at more than 100, and had consulted veterinary authorities before arranging a cull with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority using a licensed hunter.[11] The Nature and Parks Authority said an external contractor carried out the operation under its supervision.[11]
Sources
- 1Calcalist, The gap revealed: how strong authorities perpetuate inequality in education, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 2Israeli Government, Local Authority Population and Age Data, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 3Israeli Government, Cadets for Local Government profile: Al-Batuf Regional Council, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 4Israeli Government, Geographical Committee document concerning Bustan al-Marg Regional Council, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 5United Nations Digital Library, Israel report CCPR/C/ISR/4, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 6Israeli Government, Appendix 3—Arab Society Localities, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 7Ynet, Served as a police officer, his son was arrested on suspicion of extortion: this is the council head arrested in the protection racket operation, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 8State of Israel, Replies concerning Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 9Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Local Authorities in Israel 2022, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 10Ynet, The socioeconomic ranking: Savyon in first place, accessed on November 12, 2026.
- 11Mako, Storm in the Al-Batuf Regional Council in the north: dozens of peacocks shot dead, accessed on November 12, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Al-Batuf Regional Council?
Al-Batuf Regional Council is an Arab regional council in the Galilee, in Israel’s Northern District, with a partly Bedouin population. It administers four villages in a non-contiguous jurisdiction, with Wadi al-Hamam 23 kilometres from the other three.
Which villages are part of Al-Batuf Regional Council?
Al-Batuf Regional Council administers Uzeir, Rumane, Hamam and Rumat Heib. The villages also appear under the names Uzair, Rummana, Wadi al-Hamam and Rumat al-Hayb. Wadi al-Hamam is separated from the other three by 23 kilometres.
How was Al-Batuf Regional Council formed?
Al-Batuf Regional Council emerged after Nof HaGalil Regional Council, established in 1994, was divided following an Interior Ministry decision. The division created Bustan al-Marg and Al-Batuf.
What was the northern Israel Bedouin development programme?
Government Resolution No. 3211, approved on 15 May 2011, established a programme to develop and strengthen Bedouin communities in northern Israel during 2011–2015, including communities within Al-Batuf. The programme’s total budget was NIS 350 million for all participating communities collectively, not for Al-Batuf alone. Investment covered education, sewage infrastructure and transportation.
How many people live in Al-Batuf Regional Council?
A government dataset carrying an update year of 2019 recorded Al-Batuf Regional Council’s total population as 8,225. Locality-level figures updated to 2018 listed 3,200 residents in Uzeir, 1,995 in Rumat Heib, 1,473 in Hamam and 1,191 in Rumane. In 2022, Uzeir had 3,511 residents and Rumat Heib had 2,217, but those figures came from a table covering localities with at least 2,000 residents.
What challenges and priorities has Al-Batuf Regional Council faced?
Al-Batuf Regional Council has faced limited jurisdictional area, unauthorized construction and a recovery process. In 2020, council head Ahed Rahal described it as financially weak, operating under a recovery plan and with an appointed accountant, and lacking income sources such as businesses and industry. His stated priorities included education, infrastructure, municipal services, economic development, employment, welfare services, planning and construction, and public spaces and recreation.
Why were peacocks culled in Uzair?
Dozens of peacocks were shot in Uzair in May 2026 in an operation that drew criticism. The council said it had received dozens of complaints, estimated the number of birds at more than 100 and consulted veterinary authorities before arranging the cull with the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. The authority said an external contractor carried out the operation under its supervision.