More than 2,000 people took part in violent protests in the Negev Desert on Thursday against the planting of trees by the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet LeIisrael (JNF-KKL).

Bedouin rioters threw stones at police and blocked a road, reported Arutz 7. The police had to push the crowd back from the road.

Twelve protesters were injured in the melee.

Israeli Police said “we will allow the freedom of protest as long as it is conducted in a legal manner; we will act with zero-tolerance against disturbances,” according to the report,

Regavim, an NGO that works to preserve Israel’s resources, tweeted: “In light of the unprecedented, violent Bedouin rioting throughout the Negev, we demand that the Border Police & General Security Service take immediate action to secure the safety of the citizens of the Negev.”

In light of the unprecedented, violent Bedouin rioting throughout the Negev, we demand that the Border Police & General Security Service take immediate action to secure the safety of the citizens of the Negev. 1/4 pic.twitter.com/XQJrmhATr9

— Regavim (@RegavimEng) January 13, 2022