Meet the Israeli-Bedouin women’s rights activist bringing women to the negotiation table -interview

Hanan Alsanah, an Israeli-Bedouin women's rights activist and lawyer, has consistently defied expectations to forge a path for herself and thousands of women in her community. Despite facing obstacles from Israeli society, conservative norms within her Bedouin community, and her own family, Alsanah's determination has enabled her to break barriers and create new opportunities.

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Stubborn

Initially expected to leave school early for marriage like her eight sisters, Alsanah harbored a dream of becoming a lawyer. Unwilling to let her gender limit her ambitions, she successfully navigated her way into higher education. Although her parents initially imposed conditions, wearing a hijab, training only as a teacher, working exclusively with women, and staying in southern Israel, she persevered.

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fulfilling the dreams of other women

Forbidden from her initial career goal, Alsanah discovered a new passion during a Middle East studies course: fulfilling the dreams of other women. Believing education is the key to "freedom from oppression," she began addressing illiteracy among Bedouin women in 2002. Despite being told it was impossible because she was a woman, she launched a program in Rahat that grew from a single class to 11 across the city and nearby villages. This initiative later became a formally recognized school for women, with her model adopted in other Arab villages across Israel.

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freedom from oppression

Alsanah continued to overcome challenges, even in remote communities lacking basic infrastructure. She built a system to provide women with a high school-level education, training local women to assume leadership roles. Her journey exemplifies a relentless pursuit of empowerment through education, transforming lives and challenging deeply ingrained societal expectations.

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When I started my journey in Rahat, people told me that ‘you will not succeed, you will not manage, it's impossible. You cannot do it… Women will not go out to participate in this program’