SOCIAL-WORK AND BLOOD VENGEANCE - THE BEDOUIN-ARAB CASE

The practice of blood vengeance, the obligation to kill in retribution for the death of a member of one's family or tribe, is illegal in mos t countries of the world; however, many traditional cultures still dem and this form of maintaining honour. This paper outlines the cultural and historical contexts of the practice of blood vengeance among the B edouin of the Negev of Israel. It considers the consequences for the t argeted family and details the coping strategies adopted by the family , especially the children, under conditions of extreme social, emotion al and economic deprivation. It discusses social work intervention, fr om initial contact to partial resolution; strategies of cultural sensi tivity are also outlined.