11 points in the Negev

The 11 Points
settlements existing to this day
settlement dismantled as part of Israeli disengagement from Gaza

11 points in the Negev (Hebrew: 11 הנקודות or Hebrew: אחת-עשרה הנקודות, Achat-Esre HaNekudot) refers to a Jewish Agency plan to establish eleven settlements in the Negev in 1946 prior to the partition of Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel.

History[edit]

Aerial view of Hatzerim, 1958

A plan to establish eleven "points" of Jewish settlement in the Negev was devised to assure a Jewish presence in the area prior to the partition of Palestine.[1] That followed the publication of the Morrison-Grady Plan, a partition proposal in which the Negev was to be part of an Arab state.[2] Together, the Jewish National Fund, the Jewish Agency, the Haganah and the Mekorot water company launched a drive to settle the Negev and hopefully to have the Negev included as part of a Jewish state.[2]

On the night of October 5–6, 1946, after the Yom Kippur fast, the settlers, including members of Kibbutz Ruhama and Gvulot, set up camp at eleven pre-determined locations in the Negev.[3][4] The eleven settlements were (in alphabetic order):[2]

Legacy and commemoration[edit]

Today a museum celebrating the eleven points is located in Revivim.[5] In 1996 Israel Post released a stamp celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their settlement.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ On Road 2008, Day 2 International Bike Ride for the Children of ALYN hospital
  2. ^ a b c d 50th anniversary of the 11 Negev settlements Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Boeliem
  3. ^ About Bnei Shimon Archived 2005-01-10 at the Wayback Machine Bnei Shimon Regional Council
  4. ^ Outposts in the Negev Jewish National Fund
  5. ^ Follow Settlement and Agriculture in the Northern Negev Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Cycling in Israel

External links[edit]