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Poll: 50 percent of Israelis refuse to live in Negev
Anat Bereshkovsky
Published: 11.05.07, 13:21
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27 Talkbacks for this article
1. No croc!
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.11.07)
Who in their right mind would want to live in that dump? More important, Ben Gurion would be turning in his grave seeing the Arabization of this country.
2. Posh: Ben Gurion didn't want us all in the Negev
Ilan ,   Ariel   (05.11.07)
You could argue that the Negev is as developed as it needs to be. After all the desert is beautiful, but development is resource expensive. Buildings need air conditioners and to make the area agriculturally productive from desalinated water is ridiculous. The real vision is ot develop all of Israel according to our needs. More people to the Galilee, Shomron, Midbar Yehuda, the Jordan Valley and also the Negev.
3. desert towns
peter ,   amsterdam NL   (05.11.07)
Comparing Be'er Sheva to desert towns and cities in the Middle East, Australia and the US you can easily see the geographic and climatic conditions can only be offset by creating attractive conditions for investment, good infrastructure(water!) and tax holidays. If a particular industry takes off(agriculture, science, tourism) you can create critical mass that stimulates growth. Contrary to #1 Antonio I don't think Be'er Sheva is a dump and the Bedouin population are not a drawback to development. But city people are often arrogant and Haifa admittely is a nice place. Be'er Sheva could be too!
4. #1 I would live there!!!
MARK ,   USA   (05.11.07)
Israel needs the Arabs and the Arabs will help Israel. End the occupation and start making the land beautiful. That was his vision.
5. There is plenty of land for 2 states!
Mark ,   USA   (05.11.07)
S-H-A-R-E the land. 2 heads are better then one.!
6. negev
(05.11.07)
after that gets built up then we get pushed out of there, then to where?
7. #4 I have no doubt you would
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.11.07)
but there is one problem in what you're saying: this country is too small for even one Arab. And no, Jews don't need the Arabs. We need the Arabs out of here, and in their countries, living amongst their own, minding their own business, and leaving us alone. So that we can live in peace in our country.
8. Ever hear of Arizona? It worked here.
Stewart ,   USA   (05.11.07)
9. Settle?
Reality Check ,   BaGolan   (05.11.07)
while olmert meretz & peretz help arabs shoots qassams at the Negev communities?
10. #7 Most of the land is Undeveloped
Mark ,   USA   (05.11.07)
The Negev is huge. There is plenty of land and the problem is too few people. Anyone agree with me? Arabs will help the Israeli economy Jews will help the Palestinian economy. Return of refugees helps the economies of both states. Peace promotes tourism. More people will move to Israel and Palestine.
11. #7 is a racist!
Terry ,   Good Ole USA   (05.11.07)
"this country is too small for even one Arab. And no, Jews don't need the Arabs." My family is Jewish and it disgusts me to hear you say that. The US was attacked with one of the worst terrorist attacks in history, yet I do not hate all Arabs, Muslims, or any other race for that matter. I HATE TERRORISTS AND YOU SOUND LIKE ONE! It is people like you who want everything in black and white without compromise that cause the hatred of each others races. I do believe that peace can be achieved but only when people learn to understand, tolerate and RESPECT the beliefs of others. In America we call that FREEDOM! Freedom of religion, Freedom of speech and most of all Freedom to be an individual. While I respect the right for you to have an opinion. I hope I am clear when I say...Israel will never be safe when people HATE on either side of the fence. Learn to live with one another, live for a brighter future and stop all the hate mongering and living in the past, for your children's sake!
12. Punishment for self-hater
??   (05.11.07)
Ben Guirion said : "From Jewish terrorism against Arabs it is a short step to Jewish terrorism against Jews. If I knew that it was possible to save all the children of Germany by transporting them to England, and only half by transferring them to the Land of Israel, I would choose the latter, for before us lies not only the numbers of these children but the historical reckoning of the people of Israel. Under no circumstances must we touch land belonging to fellahs or worked by them. Only if a fellah leaves his place of settlement, should we offer to buy his land, at an appropriate price."
13. There are other aspects to consider
Carl ,   Indianapolis, USA   (05.11.07)
We often hear of ranchers and residents of the Negev in general who report vandalism, thievery and violence but who get almost no help from the police down there. There doesn't seem to be enough appreciation for the hard work and sacrifice of those people. What about Shai Dromi, the sheep farmer who was charged with murder, then manslaughter, for defending his family against a band of thieves? Israelis are hardworking. There must be other concerns keeping them away from that area.
14. #11 - I know, Antonio from Haifa is disgusting....
Andy ,   ramat hasharon   (05.11.07)
and judging from his name, he's probably a native of South America, coming here with all his "more right wing then thou" bullshit. Don't worry, judging from most of his talkbacks, most Israelis would agree he is an idiot. Most of us know we will have to share the land, but only when our arab brethren get reasonable. Until then we have no choice but to be as we are.
15. Negev
Emmett ,   Los Angeles US   (05.11.07)
If u build a better mousetrap they will come. and: "Twenty-seven percent of poll’s participants are willing to relocate only for an attractive employment opportunity. " 27% of 5m Jews in Israel = 1,350,000. Not so bad- when the jobs arrive people also will. IDF is locating there , Eilat is there and savannahs being created It is happening as Ben Gurion envisioned
16. this is human nature to live where the lifestyle suits you
zionist forever   (05.11.07)
Unless your an idealist its natural that people want to live in an area that suits their lifestyle better and you need to offer rewards like real estste or good job orportunities if you want people to move. It goes on all over the world its not limited to the Negev the politicians might want the people to live in one area but its not the kind of lifestyle that suits the people so the politicians either drop the whole idea and let people live where they prefer to live or you offer them rewards for moving. If the Israeli government wants the Negev populated by jews then they will need to work out what its going to take to bring them and then offer it.
17. #11, Arabs are the same race as me
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.11.07)
But this isn't their country. They have theirs, we have ours. This is the Jewish State, not a multicultural state, not the U.S.A.
18. #14, what a bigot you are
Antonio ,   Haifa   (05.11.07)
I am a Jew just like you (that is if you are one). How bigoted of you to try to hit below the belt and ponder where I may be from. I'm a Jew and I'm from Israel, like all Jews are, regardless of where we were born. And the Arabs are not our brethren. They are foreigners, and they are our enemies. Such a shame people like you don't appreciate who they are and where they are, and are driving Israel into Arab oblivion with this share the land garbage. We can here to live free, not to live in an Arab state or shared state. Shame on you and on bigots like you.
19. Good
C'est Moi ,   Canada   (05.11.07)
So if they dont want to go there they are sure welcome to go back to Belarus!!! Antonio...you sound like someone who wanted an aryan nation cleared of Jews, but in this case Arab!!! Listen to yourself.
20. Negev IS a DUMP!
Stout Viking   (05.11.07)
It's polluted and has probably some of the highest cancer rates in the country, thanks to Ramat-Hovav and the atomic reactor in Dimona. Unemployment is high, investors and others are running away from there. It worked in Arizona? Of course it did, because the Indians there are opening Casinos and selling cigars instead of shooting up farms and stealing cattle and kidnapping girls and raping them like the Beduins do here.
21. it easy to say share the land
jack ,   usa   (05.12.07)
It seems really easy for some people here to claim the moral high ground and say that the land should be divided. And that anyone who says otherwise is a racist and a bigot. But those who suggest dividing, usually live in the west and have no intrests being threatened by such a divide. I doubt that they have any family members who were killed by a homicide bomber, in the name of islamofascism. Probably never even seen the bodies that result therefrom. All I have to say is that -the land of Israel should never be divided!- It has been cut up by others since the babylonian captivity. And the true borders were set down by G-d back in the day. Individuals through out time have decided that they know better and would redraw them to their immediate needs. But it was not their right to do so, then or now. The land of Israel belongs to those decendants of the 12 tribes. And to no other. All others are guests, and as such should be treated accordingly. However a guest does not kill his host or their family, he does not steal from or attack his host. If he/she even incites such behavior they can be shown the door. People forget the loads of jewish people expelled from arab countries all over the middle east. They could have resettled "palistinian" arabs in those homes, but instead chose to leave them in slums so they would continue to fester and hate the jews. enough is enough by all means develop the negev, within reason. I like the idea of tax holidays..lol..but then again i like any idea with less taxes like vegas? with the water problems and without the whores and casinos.lol
22. If there had been more Antonios in the country's history
Joel ,   NY   (05.12.07)
there would be no Palestinians refugee problem because they would be in their Arab homes. Israel would be a country at peace with its neighbors because it would inspire respect. Being too nice and too ingratiating has brought Israel to the brink of destruction.
23. Antonio!
Palestinian   (05.12.07)
Arabs are native to Palestine and the Levant, before and after Islam. Since the early days of history and Arabians have been settling in the Levant. No need to keep mentiong these basic facts. Moreover, the Arabic-speaking population of Palestine are genetically more related to the ancient Hebrews than a Jew like you who is most likely a convert and has nothing to do with the Israelites or the Hebrews except being of Jewish faith. Stop this Crusade like mentality if you want to survive in this region, and learn something about History. Do not be in this state of denial regarding the word Arab, or Palestine, etc...
24. Mark USA # [ i would live there ]
charles ,   petach tikva   (05.12.07)
Well if you would live there , come on , there is place . It's easy to talk , talk . But to act ? There is enough place for two states ? Problem is that one side wants everything , and that are not the Israelis .
25. Palestinian # 23
charles ,   petach tikva   (05.12.07)
Before the Jewish immigration in the 1880 , there was NOTHING is this country . Some old towns , poor villages , underdevelopped . The Jews developped everything , bought lands at high prices , cultivated , built towns , industry , medical centers and so on . After 48 , when the West bank was occupied by Jordan , and Gaza by Egypt , not much was built there . Industry ? culture ? not to talk about . Nothing was done . The first university in those territories was opened ....after 67 , unther Israeli rule ! Who gave water to East Jerusalem , electricity ? also the Israelis after the liberation of our capital . Those are facts you can't deny . You had all the opportunities , the same as the Jews , to develop something nice , something you could be proud of , but no , you did nothing . To proclaim a country is yours is not enough , you have to do something for it too . And don't come and tell me that the Jews obstructed this . Till 1948 , unther British rule , you could easily have done something , but no , you did nothing valuable . And this is your own fault , don't blame others
26. Terry from the US
Alia ,   France   (05.12.07)
I agree with you ! Thank you for your comment, the world needs more people like you ! Cheers !!
27. Arab Natives? You don't know History
Ei ,   USA   (06.24.07)
Were the Phoenicians Arabs? No! This is the Home of the Hebrews! If you are Arab, then go live in one of the over 50 Arab Nations. You think Jews can live in Saudi Arabia freely? Go live in Mecca or Medina and let the Jews have Jerusalem...it's theirs! They were refugees for over 1900 years! Let them have their small, tiny country that THEY have built!
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