Hanan Alsanah BGU Alumna Empowers Bedouin Women Through Advocacy
Hanan Alsanah BGU Alumna Empowers Bedouin Women Through Advocacy
June 15, 2026
Negev Development & Community Programs
Dedication of the Bedouin female students club room.
The Jerusalem Post—Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) alumna Hanan Alsanah has become one of Israel’s leading advocates for women’s rights, education, and social change. The Israeli-Bedouin lawyer and activist, who grew up in a community where girls were often expected to leave school early and prepare for marriage, defied expectations to pursue higher education at BGU. Her experience at the University helped shape a lifelong commitment to expanding opportunities for women and strengthening leadership within Bedouin communities.
While studying at BGU, Alsanah discovered a passion for helping other women achieve opportunities that had long been denied to them. As highlighted by The Jerusalem Post, she viewed education as the key to empowerment and “freedom from oppression.” That belief inspired her to launch literacy and educational programs for Bedouin women across southern Israel, helping thousands gain access to education, leadership training, and greater economic independence.
Despite being repeatedly told her goals were impossible, Alsanah persevered. Recalling the skepticism she faced when launching programs in Rahat, she said, “When I started my journey in Rahat, people told me, ‘You will not succeed, you will not manage, it’s impossible.'” Her efforts expanded from a single class into a model replicated in communities throughout Israel, while also helping to develop a new generation of Bedouin women leaders.
Following the October 7 attacks, Alsanah co-founded the Jewish-Arab Emergency Relief Centers in the Negev, bringing together hundreds of volunteers from diverse backgrounds to support affected communities. The initiative became a powerful example of cooperation and hope during a difficult period. Today, Alsanah continues her advocacy for women’s inclusion in leadership and peace-building efforts, emphasizing that “Women are half the population, so they must have half the solutions.”
Read more on the Jerusalem Post>
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