In December 1988, residents from several unrecognized villages and other localities - both Arabs and Jews - met in the village of Ein Hod to discuss ways to confront the recommendations of the official Markovitch Commission Report which the authorities ordered to investigate the so-called phenomenon of unlicensed construction in the Arab sector in Israel.
They formed The Association of Forty which now represents the residents of the unrecognized villages and their problems, and promotes support locally and internationally. Among its goals are to obtain official recognition for the villages, to improve living conditions, and to claim full rights and equality for the Arab citizens of the state.
A legal struggle through The Law Center which belongs to the Association, and providing legal advice to the residents of the villages against what they confront in the policy of demolishing houses and confiscating lands.
Establishing a parliamentary lobby to raise the cases of these villages and to support their solution in accordance with the suggestions of The Association of Forty.
Organizing activities against Arab land confiscation in order to improve the housing situation in the Arab sector through pursuing the governmental housing projects and by working to achieve the rights of Arab citizens in this field. In order to strengthen the residents'' resolve in their villages, The Association of Forty initiated the preparation and implementation of active projects within these villages such as paving roads, improving existing roads and helping the residents to achieve their rights, to connect their villages to the network of water, electricity and telephones, to establish and operate kindergartens and clinics for mother and child care, and to obtain educational non-curricular activities for the schoolchildren of these villages.
Organizing publicity activities in order to present the matter of these villages and the rights of their residents. This was done by publishing the monthly newspaper Sawt Al-Qura, through photographic exhibitions, filming and showing documentary films which reflect the situation of these villages, organizing study days and local and international conferences, and participating in international conferences.
Targets :
     Since its establishment and until now The Association of Forty has worked on achieving many of the goals specified in its founding program which it was decided to adopt and implement, relying on the Association''s experience and expertise and on the circumstances and developments which accompanied its work.
The basic targets to be achieved by The Association of Forty are:
* Official recognition of all the unrecognized Arab villages and other localities in Israel.
 Improving the living conditions of the residents of these villages.*
* The struggle against land confiscation and demolishing Arab houses.
* Establishing local committees in the unrecognized villages and helping them to administer the villages and to present their cases.
* Strengthening the interest and participation of the residents of these villages in all stages of the struggle, in order to achieve recognition of their villages and to obtain their rights.
* Initiating the formulation of new draft laws and presenting them to the Knesset through the parliamentary lobby in all that concerns the rights and equality of the Arab community. Recruiting existing local and international general opinion to support these villages and the struggle of their residents, and to support the solution plans which the Association presents through exerting pressure on the Israeli government to adopt them and to implement equality and basic human rights for the residents of these villages, specifically, and for the Arab minority generally. Recruiting the necessary material support from official and unofficial institutions for achieving the targets of the Association.
 * Creating an atmosphere of coexistence between the residents of these villages and their neighbors in particular, and between the two peoples of the State in general.
Areas of Operation:
     * The Official Area
Since its establishment, the Association has contacted all the relevant official circles and presented the problem to them; it has also registered the matter many times on the agenda of the Knesset.

 
    * The Legal Area
The Association has taken upon itself the legal defense of the residents of the unrecognized villages in the cases of eviction and demolition orders, and is fighting to obtain basic human rights for Arab citizens.
    * The Publicity Area
The Association organized many activities and struggles to publicize the matter of these villages and to object against the policy of neglect and discrimination used against Arab citizens.
    * The International Area
The Association of Forty established relationships with many foreign embassies to recruit them in support of the problem of the unrecognized villages and to exert pressure on the Israeli government to solve it.
     * The Practical Area
Since its establishment, the Association has paid much attention to the building of infrastructures in the unrecognized villages, as detailed in the section on achievements. There is still an urgent need to pursue the work in all the foregoing areas till a just solution to the problem is reached. This requires concentrating political and publicity pressures which should be coupled with an extensive public struggle in which large numbers of people and democratic political forces should take part. Therefore, the Association appeals to all the organizations, individuals and groups in Israel and abroad, requesting them to take an active part in the fight to achieve equality, and basic human rights for the Arab minority in Israel.