Israeli Initiates Major Development for Beersheva

JERUSALEM, Israel -- While terror attacks often dominate the headlines, Israel is moving forward with plans to develop the city of Beersheva, affectionately referred to as the country’s “southern capital.”

Beersheva dates to the time of Abraham, who named the city where his wife, Sarah, gave birth to Isaac, the son of promise, and tells of the conflict that developed between Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, and Sarah. (see Gen. 21)

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the signing of a “roof agreement” providing funding to develop the city’s infrastructure, especially in view of the Israel Defense Forces move to the Negev region in the south. 

The agreement provides 1.5 billion shekels “to build, develop and market” 20,000 residential units. The capital will be used to develop the city’s infrastructure and upgrade its main thoroughfare, as well as finance a soccer stadium and rehabilitate Beersheva’s Old City.

The government called it the largest roof agreement ever signed with a local authority. The goal is to strengthen Beersheva as the nation’s cyber capital while providing additional housing needed for the IDF’S move to the Negev.

According to the Government Press Office, roof agreements are a comprehensive package benefitting mutually beneficial projects.

“Roof agreements are a ‘package deal’ that local authorities receive from the government in order to facilitate the construction of schools, daycare centers, public institutions and infrastructures that will, in turn, aid in the marketing of residential units, while lifting bureaucratic impediments,” the statement explains.
 
At Tuesday’s ceremony, Netanyahu shared his vision.

“My vision is simple,” he said. “Beersheva will have 500,000 people within 12 years.” That would make it Israel’s third largest city.

After thanking Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, Construction Minister Yoav Galant and other officials working closely with the project, Netanyahu said the funds would “create a new reality,” bring new residents to Beersheva.

“The IDF is moving south, the State of Israel is moving south, to Beersheva and the Negev,” Netanyahu said, offering congratulations to the city, the Negev and the State of Israel.

The late David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, who also envisioned developing the Negev, retired to the desert city of Sde Boker.