Beer-Sheva

History

Prehistory and biblical Period

According to the vestiges updated at Such Be' er Sheva, an archeological site located at a few kilometers in the North-East of the modern city, it is proven that the site was occupied by the Man since the thousand-year-old IVe front J. - C.. The city was several times destroyed and rebuilt during the centuries.

According to the biblical accounts, it dates at least from the time of Abraham. The name of Bersabée is indeed mentioned in the Bible to two recovery in the book of the Genèse. It is also mentioned in Josué 19,2. Bersabée was the southernmost city of Israel for the biblical Period - the expression " Of daN in Bersabée" was sometimes used to define the whole of the kingdom.

Genesis 21,32: “ After they had concluded alliance with Bersabée , Abimélek rose, with Pikol, the chief of its army, and they turned over to the country of the Philistines. ”

Old story and modern

The last inhabitants of Such Be' er-Sheva were the Byzantine , which gave up the city with the VIIe century. The Othoman , which occupied Palestine since the XVIe century, are not interested in the site until the end of the XIXe century. Thus, at the beginning of the XIXe century, Beer-Sheva was described by the European pilgrims like an arid ground with a well and a Bedouin handle of alive around.

Towards the end of the 19th century, the Othomans establish a police station in Beer-Sheva with an aim of keeping under control the Bedouins. They build roads, some small buildings which are always upright nowadays, a station and a railway line towards Ashkelon and Gaza. A small district was built in the east of the city by Bedouins and Arabs originating in Hebron and Gaza.

Modern history

The Egyptian army was established in Beer-Sheva in May 1948. The October 21st 1948, during the front Yo' Operation , the city was invaded by Tsahal. November 20th, Leonard Bernstein and the Philharmonic orchestra of Israel play there for the soldiers.

During years 1950, Beer-Sheva develops towards north. The Soroka hospital opens its doors in 1960, and the University of Negev, famous later on “ Université Ben Gourion of Negev ”, is created in 1970. In 1973, it is with the turn of the Theater of Beer-Sheva.

In 1979, Egyptian President Anouar el-Sadate gratifia the town of an official visit.

During years 1990, an important surge of immigrants induces an important increase in the population and size of Beer-Sheva.

During several years, Beer-Sheva remained preserved Palestinian terrorism. The relations between Jews and Arabs were indeed particularly good, in particular with the many Bedouins living the area and working in Beer-Sheva. However, the situation was degraded following the suicide bombings August 31st 2004, during which 16 people were killed in two buses. These attacks were asserted by the Hamas. The August 28th 2005, another Kamikaze attacked the central coach station, by wounding two guards of safety seriously.

Local policy

Yaacov Turner is the current mayor of Beer-Sheva.

The municipality of Beer-Sheva was gangrénée during long years by a lack of leadership, political problems and a deplorable financial management. The situation however clearly improved during the last years. Since 2005, main concern related to the development of the parks and the infrastructures. A new center for youth opened in 2005, and a new arts center is planned for 2007. Districts of the Old city were rehabilitated and, afterwards of the years of budgetary restrictions, the municipality again presented a balanced budget.

List mayors

David Tuviahu (1950 - 1961)
Zeev Zrizi (1961 - 1963)
Eliyahu Navi (1963 - 1986)
Moshe Zilberman (1986 - 1989)
Itzhak Rager (1989 - 1997)
David Bunfeld (1997 - 1998)
Yaacov Turner (1998 - )

Demography

According to the Central Office of the Statistics of Israel (CBS,), the population of Beer-Sheva is estimated at: 185800 inhabitants in 2006, against: 110800 in 1983 ; what makes of it the 6th city of the country for its population.

The census of 2001 fact of appearing that the city is populated to 98.9% of Jews and that it does not count any more significant Arab population (cf Démographie of Israel). One counted then: 86500 men and: 91400 women.

The distribution by age group was the following one:

31,8% of 0-19 years,
17,4% of 20-29 years,
19,6% of 30-44 years,
15,8% of 45-59 years,
4,0% of 60-64,
11,4% 65 years and more.

Annual growth rate was of 2,9%.

It also should be noted that a big part of the population remains in Beer-Sheva only for one short period; it is in particular the case of the students or the soldiers whose bases are located in the vicinity.

Education

According to the CBS, Beer-Sheva counts 81 establishments and accommodates: 33623 students: 60 elementary schools (: 17211 pupils) and 39 universities (: 16412 pupils). There are also several private schools and yeshivoth which is gathered in the religious district.

Beer-Sheva accommodates one of the principal universities of Israel - the Université Ben-Gourion of Negev - and several Universities, among which the Kaye Academic College off Education , the Sami Shamoon Academic College off Engineering , the Practical Engineering College off Beersheba .

Sports

The most popular sport with Beer-Sheva is the Football, with like club headlight the Hapoël Beer-Sheva, although it evolves/moves from now on in the 2nd national division. Created in 1949, two championships (1975 and 1976) gained, a Coupe of Israel (1997) and two Louse cups (1989 and 1996). The local stage is the Vasermil Stadium which are divided between the Hapoël and the Maccabi Beer-Sheva .

Beer-Sheva is also the principal national center of Jeu of failures. The local club gained many cuts and national championships. It repréésenté Israel out of Cut of Europe and accommodated the Championnats of the world by team in 2005. With its eight large Beer-Sheva Masters with the best ratio of the world compared to the population of the city (1 large Master for: 22875 residents).

Beer-Sheva accommodates Camels-ASA Beersheba, a club of Rugby whose teams junior and senior gained many national titles, in particular the senior national Championship in 2004-05.

The Fight, the Tennis the Gliding are also popular sports. The tennis-club of Beer-Sheva, open in 1991, account eight courts enlightened and accommodates it the activities of gliding.

References

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