It takes approximately NIS 2/ day to maintain one sheep (1.5 for food, .5 for water), which translates to NIS 800/ year. Additional expenditure of lease or purchase of land. The Bedouin in Anata have sold approximately 70% of their flocks because they were economically unsustainable. This was due to restrictions on grazing land (forced relocation and separation barrier) and isolation of key markets (Jerusalem). Once income approached the costs of living, families began to sell more animals to cover their necessary expenditures. The respondent indicated that income might only cover 80% of expenditures.
Very few Bedouin work in formal positions because formal work is physically remote and because Bedouins do not enjoy the kind of cultural exposure at home that prepares them for participation in the urban workforce. Approximately 7 families in Abu Dahouk are supported by female heads of household. These women usually raise chickens or keep small store.