The Cabinet unanimously approved this morning (Sunday) the establishment of a new "city" in the Negev - a large collection of army bases, with a roving population of 11,000 career officers and soldiers serving their three-year army stints.
The area is to be called Bahadim, based on the popular acronym for IDF Training Base, Basis Hadrachah. Bahadim City will spread out over 1.25 square kilometers, and hundreds of people will be employed in its construction. It will be located at the Negev Junction, 17 kilometers south of Be'er Sheva and ten kilometers northwest of Yerucham.
"This is a historic moment for the Negev," Prime Minister Olmert said about the plan, "which brings great tidings for Be'er Sheva and the south. The establishment of Bahadim City will change the face of the entire area, will create thousands of new jobs, and will give a boost to the transfer of quality people to the south."
Prime Minister's Office Director Raanan Dinur was slightly more specific, saying, "This will raise the quality of life in the entire area - primarily Be'er Sheva and the nearby Bedouin villages."
One air force base from the Tel Aviv area has already been relocated to the Negev, with its career personnel living in the area. The technological units of the IDF, including the intelligence and computer units, are also scheduled to be relocated to the south. It is not clear whether the Gitit training base in Samaria will be included in the move.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who served in the past as Minister for the Development of the Negev, said, "This decision is a critical part of the implementation of the plan for the development of the Negev. Bahadim City will be an employment anchor for the area and will help strengthen the entire region."
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said, "This is a major national project, initiated and led by the defense establishment. It will strengthen both our defense and societal security."
The plan is also backed by the Health and Environment Ministries, which will work to ensure that pollution from the nearby Ramat Hovav industrial and waste-treatment plant will not contaminate the area.
The area is to be called Bahadim, based on the popular acronym for IDF Training Base, Basis Hadrachah. Bahadim City will spread out over 1.25 square kilometers, and hundreds of people will be employed in its construction. It will be located at the Negev Junction, 17 kilometers south of Be'er Sheva and ten kilometers northwest of Yerucham.
"This is a historic moment for the Negev," Prime Minister Olmert said about the plan, "which brings great tidings for Be'er Sheva and the south. The establishment of Bahadim City will change the face of the entire area, will create thousands of new jobs, and will give a boost to the transfer of quality people to the south."
Prime Minister's Office Director Raanan Dinur was slightly more specific, saying, "This will raise the quality of life in the entire area - primarily Be'er Sheva and the nearby Bedouin villages."
One air force base from the Tel Aviv area has already been relocated to the Negev, with its career personnel living in the area. The technological units of the IDF, including the intelligence and computer units, are also scheduled to be relocated to the south. It is not clear whether the Gitit training base in Samaria will be included in the move.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who served in the past as Minister for the Development of the Negev, said, "This decision is a critical part of the implementation of the plan for the development of the Negev. Bahadim City will be an employment anchor for the area and will help strengthen the entire region."
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said, "This is a major national project, initiated and led by the defense establishment. It will strengthen both our defense and societal security."
The plan is also backed by the Health and Environment Ministries, which will work to ensure that pollution from the nearby Ramat Hovav industrial and waste-treatment plant will not contaminate the area.