Nevatim

Nevatim (Hebrew: נְבָטִים) is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert around 8 km (5 mi) south-east of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 629.

The nearest settlements are the Bedouin towns of Tel as-Sabi to the north and Shaqib al-Salam to the south. At a greater distance to the northeast lies Nevatim Israeli Air Force Base, named after the moshav.

History

Nevatim was originally established in 1946 by immigrants from Hungary as one of the 11 points in the Negev, its name taken from the Tanakh. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the surrounding area, including the city of Beersheba, was conquered by the Egyptian Army.

The Egyptians besieged Nevatim, along with the neighboring village of Beit Eshel (which was destroyed and subsequently abandoned). Nevatim managed to hold on throughout the siege, as the villages received air-dropped supplies and most Egyptian efforts were concentrated on continuing northwards.