Arab al-Azazmeh

The site of the destroyed village of the al-Azazmeh tribe was demolished during Operation Yoav. The clans of the al-Azazmeh tribe are spread across the central and mountainous part of the district south of the city of Be’er Sheva, covering an area of approximately 700,000 dunams. This area includes nearly all the lands surrounding the ruins of ancient cities in the Be’er Sheva district.

The al-Azazmeh belong to the Quda’a tribes, descended from Himyar of the Qahtani Arabs, and their economy is based primarily on livestock herding.

According to the 1931 census, the tribe numbered 8,678 individuals — 4,053 males and 4,025 females. By the 1946 census, their population had risen to 16,370.

The Bedouin historian al-‘Aref described them as follows:

“Their skin tone is dark brown. They possess admirable traits, foremost among them their honesty, patience, and trust in God. They are deeply loyal to the ṭaneeb (protector/guest-seeker), and are willing to sacrifice their lives for him. Due to frequent droughts in their region, they tend to relocate more often than any other tribe.”

The al-Azazmeh tribe consists of 10 clans, as follows:

1. Al-Muhamadiyyin
   • Sheikh: ‘Awda bin Suleiman bin Saleh bin Suleiman Abu Jukhaydim
   • Population in 1948: 4,040
2. Subhiyyin
   • Sheikh: Salam bin Eid bin Suleiman bin Krayshan
3. Al-Subayhat
   • Sheikh: Salem bin Muslim bin Nassar bin ‘Ayyadah Abu Samrah
4. Zarbah
   • Sheikh: Eid bin Suwaylim bin ‘Awad bin Rabi‘ah
5. Farahin
   • Sheikh: Ali bin Muslim bin Salamah bin Khudayrah
   • Population in 1948: 1,020
6. Mas‘udiyyin
   • Sheikh: Salamah bin Muslim bin Suleiman bin Sa‘id
   • Population in 1948: 970
7. ‘Usayyat
   • Sheikh: Suleiman bin Suleiman bin ‘Awda Abu ‘Asa al-Numayli
8. Al-Sawakhneh
   • Sheikh: ‘Awda bin ‘Awad Abu al-Khayl
   • This clan is considered the third largest in the al-Azazmeh tribe by population, following the al-Muhamadiyyin (1,986) and Subhiyyin (1,594).
   • The clan’s name, al-Sawakhneh, derives from their former sheikh Salman Abu Sakhneh.
9. Murabbi‘at
   • Sheikh: Salem bin Suwaylim bin Salamah bin Subh al-Azraq
10. Sarahin

• • Sheikh: Salim bin Sa‘d and Salem al-Ataym