|
|hebname=בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע
|arname=
|meaning=Седум бунари
|pushpin_map=Israel
|latd=31 |latm=15 |lats=32
|popyear=2012
|area_dunam=117500
|mayor=[[RuvikРувик DanilovichДанилович]]
|website=[http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il/openning.asp?Lang=1 http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il]
}}
'''Beersheba''' ({{IPAc-en|b|eer|'|sh|ee|b|@}}; {{lang-he-n|בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע}}, ''Be'er Sheva'' {{IPA-he|beʔeʁˈʃeva|}}; {{lang-el|Βηρσαβεε}}; {{lang-la|Bersabee}}; {{lang-ar|بئر السبع}} {{Audio-nohelp|Ar-Beersheva.oga|''{{transl|ar|DIN|Biʾr as-Sabʿ }}'' <small>(listen)</small>}}, <small>[[South Levantine Arabic|Levantine]] pronunciation:</small> {{IPA-ar|biːr esˈsabeʕ|}}) is the largest [[city]] in the [[Negev]] desert of southern [[Israel]]. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the [[List of Israeli cities|seventh-largest city in Israel]] with a population of 197,269.<ref name="cbs-loc">{{cite web|title=Locality File|year=2012|url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2012/bycode.xls|publisher=[[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]]|format=XLS|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>
'''Бершева''' или '''Бершеба''' ({{lang-he-n|בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע}}, ''Be'er Sheva'') — [[Градови во Израел|град]] во [[Израел]]. Бершева е најголем град во пустината [[Негев]] и во [[Јужен округ (Израел)|јужниот округ]]. Градот често се именува како „Главен град на Негев“. Бершева е седми најголем град во Израел со население од 197,269.<ref name="cbs-loc">{{cite web|title=Locality File|year=2012|url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2012/bycode.xls|publisher=[[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]]|format=XLS|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>
Beersheba grew in importance in the 19th century, when the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] built a regional [[police station]] there. The [[Battle of Beersheba (1917)|Battle of Beersheba]] was part of a wider British offensive in [[World War I]] aimed at breaking the Turkish defensive line from [[Gaza City|Gaza]] to Beersheba. In 1947, ''Bir Seb'a'' ({{lang-ar|بيئر شيبع}}), as it was known, was envisioned as part of the Arab state in the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]]. Following the declaration of Israel's independence, the Egyptian army amassed its forces in Beersheba as a strategic and logistical base. In the [[Battle of Beersheba (1948)|Battle of Beersheba]] waged in October 1948, it was conquered by the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref>''Guide to Israel'', [[Zev Vilnay]], Hamakor Press, Jerusalem, 1972, pp.309–14</ref>
== Демографија==
Beersheba has grown considerably since then. A large portion of the population is made up of the descendants of [[Sephardi Jews]] and [[Mizrahi Jews]] who [[Jewish exodus from Arab lands|immigrated from Arab countries]] after 1948, as well as smaller communities of [[Bene Israel]] and [[Cochin Jews]] from [[India]]. Second and third waves of immigration have taken place since 1990, bringing [[Ashkenazi Jews|Ashkenazi Jewish]] immigrants from the former [[Soviet Union]], as well as [[Beta Israel]] immigrants from [[Ethiopia]]. The Soviet immigrants have made the game of [[chess]] a major sport in Beersheba. The city is now Israel's national chess center, with more [[Grandmaster (chess)|chess grandmasters]] per capita than any other city in the world.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jan/30/news/adfg-ichess30 "Beersheba Masters Kings, Knights, Pawns"], ''Los Angeles Times,'' 30 January 2005</ref>
Бершева е најјбрзо растечки град во Израел. Иако има население од околу 200.000 жители, по површина е поголем од Тел Авив.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Blueprint Negev and the Future of Israel |url=http://blogs.jpost.com/content/blueprint-negev-and-future-israel |title=The Blueprint Negev and the Future of Israel | Jerusalem Post – Blogs |publisher=Blogs.jpost.com |date=2012-10-18 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref>
[[Израелско централно биро за статистика|Израелското централно биро за статистика]] го дели Бершева на:
==Etymology==
There are several [[etymology|etymologies]] for the origin of the name "Beersheba": The oath of [[Abraham]] and [[Abimelech]] (''well of the oath'') is the one stated in Gen. 21:31. Others include the seven wells dug by [[Isaac]] (''seven wells''), though only three or four have been identified; the oath of Isaac and Abimelech (''well of the oath'' in Gen. 26:33); the seven ewes that sealed Abraham and Abimelech's oath (''well of the seven'').
''Be'er'' is the Hebrew word for ''well''; ''sheva'' could mean "seven" or "oath" (from the Hebrew word ''shvu'a''). In this case the meaning is probably "oath", as the ancient Hebrews believed seven to be a lucky number, and the Hebrew "shvu'a" (to take an oath) literally means " to seven oneself".
==History==
===Antiquity===
Human settlement in the area dates from the [[Chalcolithic|Copper Age]]. The inhabitants lived in caves, crafting metal tools and raising cattle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vie/Beersheba.html |title=Beersheba |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |date=1948-10-21 |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> Findings unearthed at [[Tel Be'er Sheva]], an [[archaeological site]] east of modern day Beersheba, suggest the region has been inhabited since the [[4th millennium BC]].<ref>Z. Herzog. Beer-sheba II: The Early [[Iron Age]] Settlements. Institute of Archaeology, [[Tel Aviv University]] and Ramot Publishing Co. Tel Aviv 1984</ref> The city has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.
===Israelite era===
[[File:Tel Be'er Sheva Overview 2007041.JPG|thumb|Tel Be'er Sheva archaeological site]]
{{Main|Tel Be'er Sheva}}
[[Tel Be'er Sheva]], an archaeological site containing the ruins of an ancient town believed to have been the Biblical Beersheba, lies a few kilometers east of the modern city. The town dates to the early Israelite period, around the 10th century BCE. The site was probably chosen due to the abundance of water, as evidenced by the numerous wells in the area. According to the Bible, the wells were dug by [[Abraham]] and [[Isaac]] when they arrived there. The streets were laid out in a grid, with separate areas for administrative, commercial, military, and residential use. It is believed to have been the first planned settlement in the region, and is also noteworthy for its elaborate water system; in particular, a huge cistern carved out of the rock beneath the town.
[[File:Tel Be'er Sheva Storehouse 2007041.JPG|thumb|Remnants of a storehouse in Tel Be'er Sheva]]
Beersheba is mentioned in the [[Book of Genesis]] in connection with [[Abraham]] the Patriarch and his pact with [[Abimelech]]. [[Isaac]] built an altar in Beersheba (Genesis 26:23–33). [[Jacob]] had his dream about a stairway to heaven after leaving Beersheba. (Genesis 28:10–15 and 46:1–7). Beersheba was the territory of the tribe of Shimon and Judah (Joshua 15:28 and 19:2). The sons of the prophet [[Samuel (Bible)|Samuel]] were judges in Beersheba (I Samuel 8:2). Saul, Israel's first king, built a fort there for his campaign against the [[Amalek]]ites (I Samuel 14:48 and 15:2–9). The prophet [[Elijah]] took refuge in Beersheba when [[Jezebel (Bible)|Jezebel]] ordered him killed ([[Books of Kings|I Kings]] 19:3). The prophet [[Amos (prophet)|Amos]] mentions the city in regard to idolatry (Amos 5:5 and 8:14).<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Following the [[Babylonian Empire|Babylonian]] conquest and subsequent [[Babylonian captivity|enslavement]] of many Israelites, the town was abandoned. After the Israelite slaves returned from Babylon, they resettled the town. According to the [[Hebrew Bible]], Beersheba was the southernmost city of the territories settled by Israelites, hence the expression "[[from Dan to Beersheba]]" to describe the whole kingdom.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishmag.com/61mag/beersheva/beersheva.htm |title=Beer Sheva |publisher=Jewishmag.com |accessdate=2009-05-05| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090430054858/http://www.jewishmag.com/61mag/beersheva/beersheva.htm| archivedate= 30 April 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
===Roman and Byzantine era===
During the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and later [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] periods, the town served as a front-line defense against [[Nabatean]] attacks. The last inhabitants of Tel Be'er Sheva were the Byzantines, who abandoned the city during the [[Arab]] conquest of Palestine in the 7th century.
===Ottoman era===
[[File:BersheebaWWI.jpg|thumb|Beersheba, 1917]]
[[File:Beersheba 1920s.jpg|thumb|Beersheba, 1920s]]
The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]], who had controlled [[Palestine]] since the 16th century, took an interest in Beersheba in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite web|author=Yehuda Gradus|title=Beer-Sheva, Capital of the Negev Desert – Function and internal structure|quote=only at the end of the nineteenth century did Beer-Sheva become the Turkish administrative center for the Negev.|url=http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=30967058u211166t&size=largest|postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> At the beginning of the 19th century, European [[pilgrims]] to Palestine described Beersheba as a barren stretch of land with a well and a handful of [[Bedouin]]s living nearby. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Ottomans built a [[police]] station in Beersheba in order to keep the Bedouin in check.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.il/books?id=kEJKW1IaynwC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=aref+gaza&source=bl&ots=9rycQqt2C_&sig=0efL9Z1REq1mmBmTixnR5tmYYew&hl=en&ei=MHnkTtiECsnNhAfezPXPAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwATgo#v=onepage&q=aref%20gaza&f=false |title=Aref Abu-Rabia, ''A Bedouin Century: Education and Development among the Negev Tribes in the 20th century'' |publisher=Books.google.co.il |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> They built roads and a number of small buildings from local materials which are still standing today. A town plan, created by Swiss and German architects, called for a [[grid plan|grid street pattern]],<ref name="yishuv hanegev">{{cite book|title=Settlement of the Negev, 1900–1960|chapter=Basis of Beersheba City Planning|author=Gerdos, Yehuda|editor=Mordechai Na'or|publisher=Yad Yitzhak Ben-Zvi|location=[[Jerusalem]], [[Israel]]|year=1985|pages=167–177}} {{he icon}}</ref> a pattern which can be seen today in Beersheba's Old City. All houses built during that period were of one story, and the two-story police station towered above them. Most of the residents at the time were [[Arab]]s from [[Hebron]] and the [[Gaza City|Gaza]] area, although [[Jews]] also began settling in the city. Many Bedouin abandoned their nomadic lives and built homes in Beersheba.<ref name="ariel">{{cite encyclopedia|author=Vilnai, Ze'ev|title=Be'er Sheva|encyclopedia=Ariel Encyclopedia|volume=Volume 1|pages=473–515|publisher=Sifriyat HaSadeh|location=Tel Aviv, Israel|year=1969}} {{he icon}}</ref>
During [[World War I]], the Ottomans built a [[Railway to Beersheba|military railroad]] from the [[Hejaz Railway|Hejaz line]] to Beersheba, inaugurating the station on October 30, 1915.<ref name="cotterell-ch3">{{cite book|title=The Railways of Palestine and Israel|author=Cotterell, Paul|publisher=Tourret Publishing|location=Abingdon, UK|isbn=978-0-905878-04-1|year=1986|chapter=Chapter 3|pages=14–31}}</ref> The celebration was attended by the Ottoman army commander [[Ahmed Djemal|Jamal Pasha]] and other senior government officials. The train line was active until the [[British Army]] forced out the Ottomans in 1917, towards the end of the war.
===British Mandate era===
[[File:Turkishrailstation.jpg|thumb|[[Be'er Sheva Turkish Railway Station]]]]
Beersheba played an important role in the [[Sinai and Palestine Campaign]] in World War I. On October 31, 1917, three months after taking [[Rafah]], [[General Allenby]]'s troops breached the line of Turkish defense between [[Gaza City|Gaza]] and Beersheba.<ref>''An Empire in the Holy Land: Historical Geography of the British Administration in Palestine, 1917–1929,'' Gideon Biger, St. Martin's Press, New York, Magnes Press, Jerusalem, 1994, pp. 23–24</ref> Eight-hundred soldiers of the Australian 4th and [[12th Light Horse Regiment (Australia)|12th Regiments]] of the 4th [[Australian Light Horse|Light Horse Brigade]] under [[William Grant (general)|Brigadier General William Grant]], with only horses and bayonets, charged the Turkish trenches, overran them and captured the wells of Beersheba in what has become known as the "last successful cavalry charge in British military history."{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} On the edge of Beersheba's Old City is a [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission|Commonwealth]] cemetery containing the graves of Australian and British soldiers. The town also contains [[Australian Soldier Park|a memorial park dedicated to them]].
During the period of the [[British Mandate of Palestine|British Mandate for Palestine]], Beersheba was a major administrative center. The British constructed a railway between Rafah and Beersheba in October 1917; it opened to the public in May 1918, serving the Negev and settlements south of Mount Hebron.<ref>Gideon Biger (1994), ''An Empire in the Holy Land,'' p. 119</ref> In 1928, with the rise of Arab militancy there was wide-scale rioting by the Arab population leaving 133 Jews dead and 339 wounded. Many of the Jewish residents of Beersheba fled. After an Arab attack on a Jewish bus in 1936, which escalated into the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine]], most the remaining Jewish population left their homes in Beersheba, hoping to return.
===State of Israel===
[[File:מבט על העיר באר שבע, אמצע שנות השמונים.JPG|thumb|250px|Beersheba in the 1980s]]
[[File:PipesBridge.jpg|thumb|Pipes Bridge, 2012]]
The [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|1947 UN Partition Plan]] included Beersheba in the territory allotted to the proposed Arab state as the city's population of 4,000 was primarily Arab.<ref>{{Wayback |date=20080324200855 |url=http://domino.un.org/maps/m0103_1b.gif |title=Palestine Plan of Partition Map}} United Nations, 1956</ref> The [[Egyptian army]] was stationed in Beersheba in May 1948.
During the [[1948 Arab-Israeli War]], when military intelligence intercepted a telegram from Egyptian officers about plans to redeploy along the Beersheba-Gaza line, [[Yigal Allon]] proposed the conquest of Beersheba,<ref name="googleil">{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.il/books?id=iogKjVDKRW4C&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=ben+gurion+decision+to+cap-ture+beersheba&source=bl&ots=O2qKAIiCBQ&sig=bGNz6lNcMuaP_fJM4pS7jESRnTY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=s8kIUdyABZO10QWEo4DgDw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=ben%20gurion%20decision%20to%20cap-ture%20beersheba&f=true |title=''Yigal Allon: Native Son,'' Anita Shapira |publisher=Books.google.co.il |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> which was approved by Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]]. According to Israeli historian [[Benny Morris]], he ordered the "conquest of Beersheba, occupation of outposts around it, [and] demolition of most of the town."<ref name=Morris467>Morris, Benny. ''The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited'', Cambridge University Press, p. 467.</ref> The objective was to break the Egyptian blockade of Israeli convoys to the Negev. The Egyptian army did not expect an offensive and fled en masse.<ref name="googleil"/> On October 21 at 4:00 in the morning, the 8th Brigade's 89th [[battalion]] and the [[Negev Brigade]]'s 7th and 9th battalions moved in, some troops advancing from [[Mishmar HaNegev]] junction, {{convert|20|km|mi}} north of Beersheba, others from the Turkish train station and [[Hatzerim]]. By 09:45, Beersheba was in Israeli hands. Around 120 Egyptian soldiers were taken prisoner. The remaining Arab civilians, 200 men and 150 women and children, were taken to the police fort. On October 25, the women, children, disabled and elderly were driven by truck to the Gaza border. The Egyptian soldiers were interned in POW camps. Some men lived in the local mosque and were put to work cleaning but when it was discovered that they were supplying information to the Egyptian army they were also deported.<ref name=Morris467/> Following Operation Yoav a 10-kilometer radius exclusion zone around Beersheba was enforced into which no [[Bedouin]] were allowed.<ref>[[Benny Morris|Morris, Benny]] (1987) ''The birth of the Palestinian refugee problem, 1947-1949.'' Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-33028-9. p.245.</ref> Beersheba was deemed strategically important due to its location with a reliable water supply and at a major crossroads, northwest to [[Hebron]] and [[Jerusalem]], east to the [[Dead Sea]] and [[al Karak]], south to [[Aqaba]], west to [[Gaza City|Gaza]] and southwest to [[Auja al-Hafir|Al-Auja]] and the border with [[Egypt]].<ref name="googleil"/>
After a few months, the town's war-damaged houses were repaired. As a post-independence wave of Jewish immigration to Israel began, Beersheba experienced a population boom as thousands of immigrants moved in. The city rapidly expanded beyond its core, which became known as the "Old City", as new neighborhoods were built around it, complete with various housing projects such as apartment buildings and houses with auxiliary farms, as well as shopping centers and schools. The "Old City" was turned into a city center, with shops, restaurants, and government and utility offices. An industrial area and one of the largest cinema houses in Israel were also built in the city. By 1956, Beersheba was a booming city of 22,000.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=883&dat=19551007&id=J_JOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e0wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3222,5341447 Beersheba]</ref><ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19560310&id=9MVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B2wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5992,2911747 Beersheba Now Booming City, but It's Ancient Flavor Clings]</ref> By 1968, its population had grown to 80,000.<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2206&dat=19680227&id=55AyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DOoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=823,2776659 How Sea of Immigrants Tamed the Negev Wilderness]</ref> [[Soroka Medical Center|Soroka Hospital]] opened its doors in 1960, and the University of the Negev, which would later become [[Ben-Gurion University of the Negev]], was established in 1969. [[List of rulers of Egypt|Egyptian president]] [[Anwar El Sadat|Anwar Sadat]] visited Beersheba in 1979.
====Urban development====
[[File:Gan HaQshatot Ramot Beersheba IMG 2232.JPG|thumb|150px|Arches Park, Ramot neighborhood]]
As part of its [[Blueprint Negev]] project, the [[Jewish National Fund]] is funding major redevelopment projects in Beersheba. One project is the Beersheba River Walk, a {{convert|900|acre|km2|adj=on}} riverfront district with green spaces, hiking trails, a 3,000-seat sports hall, a 15-acre boating lake filled with recycled waste water, promenades, restaurants, cafés, galleries, boat rentals, a 12,000-seat amphitheater, playgrounds, and a bridge along the route of the city's [[Mekorot]] water pipes. The plans include building new homes overlooking the park and neighborhood.<ref name=park/> At the official entrance to the river park will be the Beit Eshel Park, which will consist of a park built around a courtyard with historic remains from the settlement of [[Beit Eshel]].<ref name=blueprint>[http://www.jpost.com/LocalIsrael/AroundIsrael/Article.aspx?id=175455 "Beit Eshel Park, Beersheba"], Blueprint Negev</ref>
Four new shopping malls are planned. The first, Kenyon Beersheba, will be a 115,000-square meter ecologically planned mall with pools for collecting rainwater and lighting generated by solar panels on the roof. It will be situated next to an 8,000-meter park with bicycle paths.<ref name=blueprint/><ref>[http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/34834/jewish-national-fund-plants-an-emissary-in-bay-area/ "Jewish National Fund plants an emissary in the Bay area"], ''Jweekly.com''</ref><ref>[http://www.jnf.org/work-we-do/blueprint-negev/beersheba-river-park.html JNF.org] {{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> Another mall will be a Farmer's Market, the first ever in Israel. The market will be an enclosed, circular complex with 400 spaces for vendors, and it will be surrounded by parks and greenery.<ref name=blueprint/>
A new Central Bus Station is planned for the city. The station will be a glass-enclosed complex also containing shops and cafes.<ref name=blueprint/>
In recent years, some $10.5 million has been invested in renovating Beersheba's Old City, preserving historical buildings and upgrading infrastructure.<ref>[http://www.timesofisrael.com/spending-time-at-the-well/?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150571598805779_20906899_10150576840115779 "Upwelling of Renewal"], ''Times of Israel''</ref> The Turkish Quarter is also being redeveloped with newly cobbled streets, widened sidewalks, and the restoration of Turkish homes into areas for dining and shopping.<ref name=park>{{cite web|url=http://www.jnf.org/work-we-do/blueprint-negev/beer-sheva-river-park.html |title=Jewish National Fund: Be'er Sheva River Park |publisher=Jnf.org |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref>
In 2011, city hall announced plans to turn Beersheba into the "water city" of Israel.<ref>{{cite web|author=רועי צ'יקי ארד 08.07.2011 00:54 עודכן ב: 23:15 |url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/1.1179790 |title=שיגעון המים של בירת הנגב - חינוך וחברה - הארץ |publisher=Haaretz.co.il |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref> One of the projects, "Beersheva beach," envisions a 7-dunam facility opposite city hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4196840,00.html |title=mynet באר שבע - תגידו, צריך חוף ים בבאר שבע? |publisher=Mynet.co.il |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/54/ART2/354/966.html?hp=54&cat=873&loc=63 |title=מקומי – באר שבע nrg – ...דרעי עצבני: רב העיר ב"ש יוצא לקרב |publisher=Nrg.co.il |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref> Other projects include new fountains near the [[Soroka Medical Center]] and in front of the Shamoon College of Engineering.
In the 1990s, as [[skyscraper]]s began to appear in Israel, the construction of high-rise buildings began in Beersheba.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/2881/skyscrapers-dotting-tel-aviv-landscape/ |title=Skyscrapers dotting Tel Aviv landscape | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California |publisher=Jweekly.com |date=1996-03-29 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref> Today, downtown Beersheba has been described as a "clean, compact, and somewhat sterile-looking collection of high-rise office and residential towers."<ref>[http://globaltravelerusa.com/mag/beer-sheva-desert-bloom "Beersheba desert bloom"], Global Travel</ref> The city's tallest building is Rambam Square 2, a 32-story apartment building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=rambamsquare2-beersheva-israel |title=Rambam Square 2, Beer Sheva |location=IL / |publisher=Emporis.com |date=2003-07-21 |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> Many additional high-rise buildings are planned or are under construction, including skyscrapers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/city/beersheva-israel/all-buildings |title=All buildings | Buildings |publisher=Emporis |date=2003-07-21 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/building/rambamsquare2-beersheva-israel |title=Rambam Square 2 | Buildings |location=IL / |publisher=Emporis |date=2003-07-21 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/city/beersheva-israel/skyscrapers |title=skyscrapers | Buildings |publisher=Emporis |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref> There are further plans to build luxury residential towers in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4227281,00.html |title=ynet מגדלים בלב המדבר: תנופת הבנייה מגיעה לב"ש - כלכלה |publisher=Ynet.co.il |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref>
The city is undergoing a major construction boom, which includes both development of urban design elements, such as water fountains and bridges, and environmental development such as playgrounds and parks.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4228131,00.html], YNET News</ref>
In December 2012, a plan to build 16,000 new housing units in the Ramot Gimel neighborhood was scrapped in favor of creating a new [[urban forest]], which will span {{convert|1360|acres|0|abbr=on}} and serve as the area's "green lung", as part of the plans to develop a "green band" around the city. The forest will include designated picnic areas, biking trails, and walking trails. According to Mayor [[Ruvik Danilovich]], Beersheba still has an abundance of open, underdeveloped spaces that can be used for urban development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4316990,00.html |title=Beersheba opts for trees over urban sprawl – Israel Environment, Ynetnews |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref>
==Geography==
[[File:NahalashanS.jpg|thumb|Dry riverbed in Nahal Ashan park]]
Beersheba is located on the northern edge of the [[Negev]] desert {{convert|115|km|mi}} south-east of [[Tel Aviv]] and {{convert|120|km|mi}} south-west of [[Jerusalem]]. The city is located on the main route from the center and north of the country to [[Eilat]] in the far south. The Valley of Beer Sheva has been populated for thousands of years, as it has available water, which flows from the Hebron hills in the winter and is stored underground in vast quantities.<ref name="geog">{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/harbor/7883/bs-climt.htm |title=The climate of Beer Sheva |accessdate=2008-02-24|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20080325061505/http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/harbor/7883/bs-climt.htm|archivedate=2008-03-25}}</ref> The main river in Beersheba is ''Nahal Beersheva'', a ''[[wadi]]'' which floods in the winter. The Kovshim and Katef streams are other important wadis which pass through the city. Beersheba is surrounded by a number of satellite towns, including [[Omer, Israel|Omer]], [[Lehavim]], and [[Meitar]], and the [[Negev Bedouin|Bedouin]] localities of [[Rahat]], [[Tel as-Sabi]], and [[Lakiya]].
==Climate==
Beersheba has a [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''BSh'') with [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] influences. The city has both characteristics of Mediterranean and desert climates. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and rainy. In summer, the temperatures are high in daytime and nighttime with an average high of {{convert|32.3|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} and an average low of {{convert|19.9|°C|°F|sigfig=2}}. In winter, the temperature are cool and the weather is rainy and snow is very rare. Winters have an average high of {{convert|17.7|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} and average low of {{convert|8|°C|°F|sigfig=2}}.
Precipitation in summer is rare, the most rainfalls come in winter between September to May, but the annual amount is low, averaging {{convert|204.1|mm|in|sp=us|1}} per year. Sandstorms, haze and fog are common, especially in winter, as a result of the high humidity.
{{Weather box
|location = Beersheba
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 28.4
|Feb record high C = 31.8
|Mar record high C = 35.5
|Apr record high C = 40.9
|May record high C = 41.2
|Jun record high C = 43.6
|Jul record high C = 45.5
|Aug record high C = 44.3
|Sep record high C = 41.8
|Oct record high C = 39.6
|Nov record high C = 34.1
|Dec record high C = 31.4
|year record high C = 45.5
|Jan high C = 15.7
|Feb high C = 18.5
|Mar high C = 21.1
|Apr high C = 26.8
|May high C = 29.4
|Jun high C = 31.3
|Jul high C = 33.7
|Aug high C = 32.8
|Sep high C = 29.6
|Oct high C = 25.5
|Nov high C = 20.2
|Dec high C = 18.1
|year high C = 25.7
|Jan low C = 6.5
|Feb low C = 8.6
|Mar low C = 11.3
|Apr low C = 14.8
|May low C = 15.4
|Jun low C = 18.8
|Jul low C = 21.5
|Aug low C = 20.9
|Sep low C = 18.5
|Oct low C = 14.7
|Nov low C = 12.6
|Dec low C = 8.9
|year low C = 14.2
|Jan record low C = -5.3
|Feb record low C = -0.5
|Mar record low C = 3.4
|Apr record low C = 6.6
|May record low C = 9.2
|Jun record low C = 12.6
|Jul record low C = 15.8
|Aug record low C = 15.6
|Sep record low C = 12.1
|Oct record low C = 6.2
|Nov record low C = 2.4
|Dec record low C = -2.1
|year record low C = -5
|Jan precipitation mm = 49.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 38.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 25.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 12.9
|May precipitation mm = 2.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0
|Sep precipitation mm = 1.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 15.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 29.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 41.9
|year precipitation mm = 204.1
|Jan precipitation days = 9.2
|Feb precipitation days = 7.3
|Mar precipitation days = 5.4
|Apr precipitation days = 1.6
|May precipitation days = 0.8
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 0
|Aug precipitation days = 0
|Sep precipitation days = 0.3
|Oct precipitation days = 2.4
|Nov precipitation days = 5.6
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5
|year precipitation days = 41
|Jan humidity = 50
|Feb humidity = 48
|Mar humidity = 44
|Apr humidity = 35
|May humidity = 34
|Jun humidity = 36
|Jul humidity = 38
|Aug humidity = 41
|Sep humidity = 43
|Oct humidity = 42
|Nov humidity = 42
|Dec humidity = 48
|year humidity =
|source 1 = Israel Meteorological Service<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/LongTermInfo |title=Averages and Records for Beersheba (Precipitation, Temperature and Records [Excluding January and June] written in the page)|publisher=Israel Meteorological Service|date=August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ims.gov.il/IMS/CLIMATE/TopClimetIsrael |title=Records Data for Israel (Data used only for January and June)|publisher=[[Israel Meteorological Service]]}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
== Demography==
Beersheba is one of the fastest-growing cities in Israel. Though it has a population of about 200,000, the city is larger in size than [[Tel Aviv]], and its urban plan calls for a population of 450,000–500,000.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Blueprint Negev and the Future of Israel |url=http://blogs.jpost.com/content/blueprint-negev-and-future-israel |title=The Blueprint Negev and the Future of Israel | Jerusalem Post – Blogs |publisher=Blogs.jpost.com |date=2012-10-18 |accessdate=2013-03-12}}</ref> In 2010, the National Council for Planning and Construction approved a master plan with the goal of increasing the population of Beersheba and its metropolitan area to 1 million by 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calcalist.co.il/real_estate/articles/0,7340,L-3412128,00.html |title=תוכנית באר שבע אושרה; המטרה – מיליון תושבים עד שנת 2020 |publisher=Calcalist.co.il |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-03-26}}</ref>
[[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]] divides the Beersheba metropolitan area into four areas:
{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>MetropolitanОбласти ringsво in the Beersheba metropolitan areaБершева</big><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton60/st02_16.pdf |format=PDF| title=Localities, Population, and Density | accessdate=2010-01-24}}</ref>
|-
!bgcolor="efefef" rowspan="2"| '''Metropolitanметрополитенски ringпрстен'''
!bgcolor="efefef" rowspan="2"| '''Localitiesчетврти'''
!bgcolor="efefef" colspan="4"| '''Populationнаселение (2009 census)'''
!bgcolor="efefef" rowspan="2"| '''Populationгустина densityна население<br>(perна kmкм²)'''
!bgcolor="efefef" rowspan="2"| '''Annualгодишен Populationпораст<br />growthна rateнаселение'''
|-
!bgcolor="efefef"| Totalвкупно
!bgcolor="efefef"| [[IsraeliЕвреи Jews|Jews]]и and others<sup>1</sup>други
!bgcolor="efefef"| Thereof:само [[Israeli Jews|Jews]]Евреи
!bgcolor="efefef"| [[Arab citizens of Israel|Arabs]] Арапи
|-
| <big>CoreЈадро</big><sup>2</sup>
| <big>1</big>
| <big>187,200</big>
| <big>0.6%</big>
|-
| <big>Внатрешен прстен
| <big>Inner Ring</big><sup>3</sup>
| 32
| 151,000
| 3.9%
|-
| NorthernСеверен Sectionдел
| 11
| 69,100
| 3.8%
|-
| WesternЗападен Sectionдел
| 13
| 32,400
| 1.0%
|-
| <big>MiddleСреден Ringпрстен</big><sup>4</sup>
| <big>83</big>
| <big>210,700</big>
| <big>1.6%</big>
|-
| EasternИсточен Sectionдел
| 8
| 126,100
| 1.6%
|-
| SouthernЈужен Sectionдел
| 10
| 13,000
| 0.9%
|-
| WesternЗападен Sectionдел
| 65
| 71,600
| 1.7%
|-
| <big>OuterНадворешен Ringпрстен</big><sup>5</sup>
| <big>13</big>
| <big>10,800</big>
| <big>1.8%</big>
|-
| EasternИсточен Sectionдел
| 5
| 2,300
| -1.7%
|-
| SouthernЈужен Sectionдел
| 8
| 8,500
| 2.7%
|-
| <big>'''TotalВкупно'''</big>
| <big>'''129'''</big>
| <big>'''559,700'''</big>
|}
==Збратимени градови==
<small>'''Notes'''
Бершева е збратимен со:<ref name="muni-sister">{{cite web|title=International Relations of the City of Beersheba|url=http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il/openning.asp?Lang=1|publisher=Beersheba Municipality|accessdate=2012-02-08}} {{he icon}}</ref>
* <sup>1</sup> The population of "Jews and others" incl. Jews, non-Arab Christians and those not classified by religion.
* <sup>2</sup> Includes the city of Beersheba.
* <sup>3</sup> Includes the cities [[Rahat]] and [[Ofakim]], the [[local council (Israel)|local council]]s [[Lehavim]], [[Omer, Israel|Omer]] and [[Tel as-Sabi|Tel Sheva]], as well as many smaller towns (local councils).
* <sup>4</sup> Includes the cities [[Dimona]], [[Arad, Israel|Arad]], [[Netivot]] and [[Sderot]], the local councils [[Ar'arat an-Naqab]] and [[Yeruham]], as well as many smaller towns (local councils).
* <sup>5</sup> Includes the local council of [[Mitzpe Ramon]], as well as many smaller towns (local councils).</small>
==Economy==
[[File:Negev Mall Tower.JPG|thumb|150px|Negev Mall Tower]]
The largest employers in Beersheba are the municipality, [[Israel Defense Forces]], Ben-Gurion University and the Soroka Medical Center. Numerous electronics and chemical plants, including [[Teva Pharmaceutical Industries]], are located in and around the city. A large high-tech park is being built near the [[Be'er Sheva North Railway Station]].<ref name="autogenerated2" /> A major [[Israel Aerospace Industries]] complex is located in the main industrial zone, north of [[Highway 60 (Israel)|Highway 60]]. Three industrial zones are located on the southeastern side of the city – Makhteshim, Emek Sara and Kiryat Yehudit – and a light industry zone between Kiryat Yehudit and the Old City. A high-tech park is located near [[Omer, Israel|Omer]]. A [[Science park|Science Park]] funded by the RASHI-SACTA Foundation, Beersheba Municipality and private donors was completed in 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://duns100.dundb.co.il/2007/vp/600143622/index.asp |title=© Dun's 100 2007 – Be'er-Sheva Municipality VP |publisher=Duns100.dundb.co.il |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref> In addition, [[Elbit Systems]] is planning to build a research and development center in the city, which will employ 100 workers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4172717,00.html |title=Elbit in talks for Beersheba R&D center – Israel Business, Ynetnews |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-03-26}}</ref>
==Local government==
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 10420 court house in beer sheva.jpg|thumb|Beersheba District Court]]
The Beersheba municipality was plagued for many years by an ineffectual leadership, political problems and poor financial planning. Since 2005, attention has been focused on developing parks and infrastructure. A new youth center opened in 2005, and a new cultural centre opened in 2008. In 2006, after many years of financial struggle, the municipality has achieved a balanced budget.<ref>[http://duns100.dundb.co.il/companies/600143622/index.asp Beer-Sheva Municipality], ''Dun's 100,'' 2006</ref>
The official emblem of the municipality of Beersheba depicts an ''eshel'' ([[Tamarix|tamarisk]] tree), the tree planted by Abraham according to Genesis,<ref>Genesis / Bereishit 21:33</ref> and the observation tower connected to the municipality building.
The mayor of Beersheba is [[Ruvik Danilovich]], who was deputy mayor under [[Yaakov Turner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enews20.com/news_Secular_candidate_elected_Jerusalem_mayor_14085.html |title=Secular candidate elected Jerusalem mayor |publisher=Enews20.com |date=2008-11-12 |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Mayors of Beersheba
!
! Name
! Took office
! Left office
! Years in office
|-
|1
|[[David Tuviyahu]]
|1950
|1961
|11
|-
|2
|[[Ze'ev Zrizi]]
|1961
|1963
|2
|-
|3
|[[Eliyahu Nawi]]
|1963
|1986
|23
|-
|4
|[[Moshe Zilberman]]
|1986
|1989
|3
|-
|5
|[[Yitzhak Rager]]
|1989
|1997
|8
|-
|6
|[[David Bunfeld]]
|1997
|1998
|1
|-
|7
|[[Yaakov Turner]]
|1998
|2008
|10
|-
|8
|[[Ruvik Danilovich]]
|2008
|
|
|}
==Educational and religious institutions==
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 4451 College of Engineering Sammy Shamun.JPG|thumb|Sami Shamoon College of Engineering]]
[[File:BenGurionUniversity.jpg|thumb| Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology]]
According to [[CBS]], Beersheba has 81 schools and a student population of 33,623: 60 elementary schools with an enrollment of 17,211, and 39 high schools with an enrollment of 16,412. Of Beersheba's 12th graders, 52.7% earned a [[Bagrut]] matriculation certificate in 2001. The city also has several private schools and [[Yeshiva|Yeshivot]] which cater to the religious sector.
Beersheba is home to one of Israel's major universities, [[Ben-Gurion University of the Negev]] located on an urban campus in the city (Dalet neighborhood). Other schools in Beersheva are the [[Open University of Israel]], Sami Shamoon Academic College of Engineering. [[Kaye Academic College of Education]], Practical Engineering College of Beersheba (''Hamichlala ha technologit shel Be'er sheva''),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcb.ac.il/ |title=technical college website |publisher=Tcb.ac.il |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref> and a campus of the Israeli Air and Space college (''[[Beersheba Tehni School|Techni Be'er sheva]] '') <ref>{{cite web|url=http://techni-bs.iscool.co.il |title=school website |publisher=Techni-bs.iscool.co.il |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref>
Despite Arab objections in 2009, the historic mosque in Beersheba was renovated and is currently being used as a municipal museum.<ref>Jonathan Cook, Palestinians in Israel fight to reclaim Beersheva’s Great Mosque, Electronic Intifada, Aug 25, 2009, http://electronicintifada.net/content/palestinians-israel-fight-reclaim-beershevas-great-mosque/8411.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1089841.html |title=Will Be'er Sheva allow Muslims to use city's only mosque? – Haaretz – Israel News |publisher=Haaretz |accessdate=2009-07-07| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090606135706/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1089841.html| archivedate= 6 June 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Beersheba's 20,000 Arabs represent about 10% of the population.<ref>In first, Arab to run in Beersheba municipal elections, Ma'an News Agency, Sept 5, 2013, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=626992</ref> The mosque was first used as a prison in 1948 after almost all indigenous Arabs were removed from Beersheba by Israeli forces to the Gaza Strip, al-Khalil (Hebron), Jordan and a small number ended up in the Sinai.<ref>Palestinians protest wine festival at Beersheba mosque, Ma'an News Agency, Sept 5, 2013, http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=516735.</ref><ref>Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, Beer Sheba:
The Forgotten Half of Palestine, Palestinian Land Society, June 2003, http://www.plands.org/articles/013.html.</ref>
==Neighborhoods==
{{Main|Neighborhoods of Beersheba}}
After Israeli independence, Beersheba became a "laboratory" for [[Architecture of Israel|Israeli architecture]].<ref name="haaretz.com">[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1082108.html Haaretz.com], "Magic Carpet: The Carpet-Style Patio Homes of Be'er Sheva"], ''[[Haaretz]]''</ref> Mishol Girit, a neighborhood built in the late 1950s, was the first attempt to create an alternative to the standard public housing projects in Israel. Hashatiah (lit. "the carpet"), also known as ''Hashekhuna ledugma'' (the model neighborhood), was hailed by architects around the world.<ref name="haaretz.com" /> Today, Beersheba is divided into seventeen residential neighbourhoods in addition to the Old City and Ramot, an umbrella neighborhood of 4 sub-districts. Many of the neighbourhoods are named after letters of the [[Hebrew alphabet]], which also have numerical value, but descriptive place names have been given to some of the newer neighborhoods.
[[File:AranlibraryS.jpg|thumb|Library, Ben Gurion University of the Negev]]
==Art and culture==
[[File:Beersheba, Monument to Negev Brigade, Bunker 02.jpg|thumb|Monument to the Negev Brigade, [[Danny Karavan]]]]
Beersheba is the home base of the Israel Sinfonietta, founded in 1973. Over the years, the Sinfonietta has developed a broad repertoire of symphonic works, concerti for solo instruments and large choral productions, among them [[Handel]]'s ''[[Israel in Egypt]],'' masses by [[Schubert]] and [[Mozart]], [[Rossini]]'s "Stabat Mater" and [[Vivaldi]]'s "Gloria." World-famous artists have appeared as soloists with the Sinfonietta, including Pinhas Zuckerman, [[Jean-Pierre Rampal]], [[Shlomo Mintz]], [[Gary Karr]] and [[Paul Tortelier]].<ref>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2002/7/Sounds%20from%20the%20South, Sounds from the South]{{Dead link|date=July 2009}}</ref> In the 1970s, a memorial commemorating fallen Israeli soldiers designed by the sculptor [[Dani Karavan|Danny Karavan]] was erected on a hill north-east of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A4499625 |title=h2g2 – Be'er Sheva, Israel – A4499625 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2009-05-05| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090531054720/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A4499625| archivedate= 31 May 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The Beersheba Theater opened in 1973. [http://www.negevlightopera.com The Light Opera Group of the Negev], established in 1980, performs musicals in English every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/pages/ShArtStEngPE.jhtml?itemNo=957537&contrassID=2&subContrassID=5&title='The%20salons%20of%20the%20South%20'&dyn_server=172.20.5.5 |title=The salons of the South – Haaretz – Israel News |publisher=Haaretz |date=2006-12-24 |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref>
[[The Negev Museum of Art]] reopened in 2004 in the Ottoman Governor House, and an art and media center for young people was established in the Old City. In 2009, a new tourist and [[Visitor center|information center]], Gateway to the Negev, was built.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lubliner |first=Elan |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304840270&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |title='Gateway' center aims to help the Negev bloom again | Around Israel | Jerusalem Post |publisher=Jpost.com |date=2009-02-21 |accessdate=2009-05-05}}</ref> Landmarks in the city include Abraham's Well and the old Turkish train station, now the focus of development plans.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=175455 "Blueprint for Beersheba"], JPost</ref> The Artists House of the Negev, in a Mandate-era building, showcases artwork connected in some way to the Negev.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Travel/AroundIsrael/Article.aspx?id=42954 "Touch and feel the Negev"], JPost</ref>
== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transport in Beersheba}}
Beersheba is the central transport hub of southern Israel, served by roads, railways and air. Beersheba is connected to [[Tel Aviv]] via [[Highway 40 (Israel)|Highway 40]], the second longest highway in Israel, which passes to the east of the city and is called the Beersheba bypass because it allows travellers from the north to go to southern locations, avoiding the more congested city center. From west to east, the city is divided by [[Highway 25 (Israel)|Highway 25]], which connects to [[Ashkelon]] and the [[Gaza Strip]] to the northwest, and [[Dimona]] to the east. Finally, Highway 60 connects Beersheba with [[Jerusalem]] and the Shoket Junction, and goes through the [[West Bank]]. On the local level, a partial [[Beltway|ring road]] surrounds the city from the north and east, and Road 406 (Rager Blvd.) goes through the city center from north to south.
[[Metrodan Beersheba]], established in 2003, has a fleet of 90 buses and operates 19 lines in the city, most of which depart from the Beersheba Central Bus Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eng.negev-net.org.il/HTMLs/article.aspx?C2004=12553&BSP=12316|title=Transportation in the Negev|publisher=Negev Information Center|accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> These lines were formerly operated by the municipality as the 'Be'er Sheva Urban Bus Services'. Inter-city buses to and from Beersheba are operated by [[Egged Bus Cooperative|Egged]], [[Egged Ta'avura]] and [[Metropoline]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metropoline.com/map.asp|title=Map of lines of the Metropoline company|publisher=Metropoline|accessdate=2008-11-24| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081217065744/http://www.metropoline.com/map.asp| archivedate= 17 December 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}} {{he icon}}</ref>
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 4499 Pedestrian Bridge.JPG|thumb|left|Mexico Bridge from railway station to Ben Gurion University]]
[[Israel Railways]] operates two stations in the city that form part of the [[railway to Beersheba]]: the old [[Be'er Sheva North Railway Station|Be'er Sheva North University]] station, adjacent to [[Ben Gurion University]] and [[Soroka Medical Center]], and the new [[Be'er Sheva Center Railway Station|Be'er Sheva Central]] station, adjacent to the central bus station. Between the two stations, the railway splits into two, and also continues to Dimona and [[Dead Sea|the Dead Sea]] factories. An extension is planned to [[Eilat]]<ref name="eilat rail">{{cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3520156,00.html|publisher=[[Ynet]]|language=Hebrew|date=2008-03-17|accessdate=2008-03-25|author=Hazelkorn, Shahar|title=Mofaz Decided: A Railway to Eilat Will Be Built| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080321230635/http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3520156,00.html| archivedate= 21 March 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> and [[Arad, Israel|Arad]].
The Be'er Sheva North University station is the terminus of the line to Dimona. All stations of Israel Railways can be accessed from Beersheba using [[Interchange station|transfer stations]] in [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Lod]]. Until 2012, the [[Railway to Beersheba|railway line to Beersheba]] used a slow single-track configuration with sharp curves and many [[level crossing]]s which limited train speed. Between 2004 and 2012 the line was double tracked and rebuilt using an improved alignment and all its level crossings were [[grade separation|grade separated]]. The rebuilding effort cost [[Israeli new shekel|NIS]] 2.8 billion and significantly reduced the travel time and greatly increased the train frequency to and from Tel Aviv and Haifa to Beersheba.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bocker|first=Ran|title=From Beersheva to Tel Aviv in 55 MInutes|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4255551,00.html|accessdate=15 July 2012|newspaper=[[Ynet]]|date=15 July 2012|language=Hebrew}}</ref> In addition, Beersheba will be linked to [[Tel Aviv]] and [[Eilat]] by a new passenger and freight [[High speed railway to Eilat|high-speed railway system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airrailnews.com/index.php/component/simplelists/item/929 |title=Eilat high speed rail line gets green line |publisher=Airrailnews.com |date=2013-02-14 |accessdate=2013-03-26}}</ref>
There have been plans for a [[light rail]] system in Beersheba for many years, and a light rail system appears in the master plan for the city. However, implementation has so far been delayed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4055675,00.html |title=mynet באר שבע - רכבת קלה? הצחקתם את הבאר שבעיים |publisher=Mynet.co.il |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-03-26}}</ref>
=== Hiking ===
Beersheba is linked to [[Hilvan]] by the [[Abraham Path]].
==Sports==
[[File:Beersheba's Country Club IMG 1389.JPG|thumb|right|upright|Beersheba country club]]
[[Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]] plays in the [[Israeli Premier League]], the top tier of [[Football in Israel|Israeli football]], having been promoted in the [[Liga Leumit 2008–09|2008–2009]] [[Liga Leumit]] season. The club has won the Israeli championship twice, in 1975 and 1976, as well as the [[Israel State Cup|State Cup]] in 1997. Beersheba has two other local clubs, [[Maccabi Be'er Sheva F.C.|Maccabi Be'er Sheva]] (based in [[Neighborhoods of Beersheba#Neve Noy|Neve Noy]]) and MS Be'er Sheva (based in the north of [[Neighborhoods of Beersheba#Dalet|Dalet]]), a continuation of the defunct [[Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva F.C.|Beitar Avraham Be'er Sheva]]. Hapoel and Maccabi both play at the [[Vasermil Stadium]], a 13,000-capacity concrete bowl located in the [[Neighborhoods of Beersheba#Bet|Bet]] neighbourhood. the city council has plans to demolish the stadium after the completion of the [[United States dollar|US$]]50 million 16,000-seat [[Be'er Sheva Municipal Stadium]],<ref>[http://www.gab-arch.co.il/projects_main.html Be'er-Sheva Stadium] GAB Architects</ref> which is expected to open in 2015.
Beersheba has a basketball club, [[Hapoel Be'er Sheva B.C.|Hapoel Be'er Sheva]]. The team plays at The [[conch Arena]], which seats 3,000.
Beersheba has become Israel's national [[chess]] center; thanks to Soviet immigration, it is home to the largest number of [[Grandmaster (chess)|chess grandmasters]] of any city in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Chess masters set to compete in world blitz championship |first=Eitan |last=Bekerman |newspaper=Haaretz |date=4 September 2006 |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/758461.html |postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}{{dead link|date=August 2010}}</ref> The city hosted the [[World Team Chess Championship]] in 2005, and chess is taught in the city's kindergartens.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/9-other/2182-673-world-team-championship-in-beer-sheva-israel|title=World Team Championship in Beer Sheva, Israel |publisher=World Chess Federation |accessdate=13 March 2009 |date=1 November 2005 |postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> The Israeli chess team won the silver medal at the [[38th Chess Olympiad|2008 Chess Olympiad]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Israel takes silver medal at Chess Olympiad |first=Uri |last=Tzahor |newspaper=Ynewnews.com |date=26 November 2008 |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3628765,00.html |postscript=<!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> and the bronze at the [[39th Chess Olympiad|2010 Olympiad]]. The chess club was founded in 1973 by Eliyahu Levant, who is still the driving spirit behind it.<ref>{{cite news|work=Jerusalem Post|date=12 December 2004|author=Gavin Rabinowitz|page=4|title=Beersheba is king of world chess|url=http://highbeam.com/doc/1P1-103365216.html|quote=By all accounts it is Levant, 76, who is responsible for chess taking root in these arid surroundings... Klenburg says the club's success is all owed to Levant. "He was the right man at the right time,"}}</ref>
The city has the second largest [[wrestling]] center (AMI wrestling school) in Israel. {{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} The center is run by Leonid Shulman and has approximately 2,000 students most of whom are from Russian immigrant families since the origins of the club are in the [[Neighborhoods of Beersheba#Nahal Beka|Nahal Beka]] integration camp. Maccabi Be'er Sheva has a freestyle wrestling team, whilst Hapoel Be'er Sheva has a Greek-Romi wrestling team. In 2010 world championships by [[International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles|FILA]] in wrestling 5 medals were won by AMI students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3833478,00.html |title=mynet באר שבע – באר שבע מובילה במאבק על ספורט ההאבקות |publisher=Mynet.co.il |accessdate=2013-03-26}}</ref> Cricket is played under the auspices of [[Israel Cricket Association]]. Beersheba is also home to a [[Rugby union|rugby]] team whose senior and youth squads have won several national titles (including the recent Senior National League 2004–2005 championship).<ref>[http://www.rugbycity.net/ The Camels-ASA Beersheba Rugby in Beersheba]</ref> Beersheba's tennis center, which opened in 1991, features eight lighted courts, and the Be'er Sheva (Teyman) airfield is used for [[gliding]].
==Environmental awards==
In 2012, the Beersheba "ring trail," a 42-kilometer hiking trail around the city, won third place in the annual environmental competition of the European Travelers Association.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4289338,00.html |title=Beersheba wins EU's green travel award |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=1995-06-20 |accessdate=2013-08-08}}</ref>
==Notable residents==
[[File:Ilan Ramon, NASA photo portrait in orange suit.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Ilan Ramon]]]]
* [[Aref al-Aref]], Arab historian
* [[Orna Banai]], Israeli actress, comedian, and entertainer
* [[Elyaniv Barda]], footballer
* [[Zehava Ben]], singer
* [[Avishay Braverman]], professor and politician
* [[Anat Draigor]], basketball player
* [[Ronit Elkabetz]], actress
* [[Zvika Hadar]], comedian and show host
* [[Boaz Huss]], professor of [[Kabbalah]] at [[Ben-Gurion University of the Negev]]
* [[Victor Mikhalevski]], chess grandmaster
* [[David Newman (political geographer)|David Newman]], professor and Dean of Social Science and Humanities, BGU
* [[Ilan Ramon]], Israel's first astronaut; died in the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Columbia disaster]]
* [[Yehudit Ravitz]], singer
* [[Eli Zizov]], footballer
* [[Ze'ev Zrizi]], second mayor of Beersheba
* [[Almog Cohen]], footballer
==International Relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Israel}}
===Twin towns—Sister cities===
[[File:Rocketpopmap.jpeg|thumb|Beersheba is located in the 1min of [[BM-21 Grad|grad]] rocket range]]
Beersheba is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with twelve other towns and cities:<ref name="muni-sister">{{cite web|title=International Relations of the City of Beersheba|url=http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il/openning.asp?Lang=1|publisher=Beersheba Municipality|accessdate=2012-02-08}} {{he icon}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Oni,Они Georgia(Грузија)|Они]], [[Грузија]] <small>(sinceод 2000)</small>
*{{flagicon|PHIФилипини}} [[CebuСебу City(град)|Себу]], [[PhilippinesФилипини]]
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[MontrealМонтреал]], [[CanadaКанада]]
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[WinnipegВинопег]], [[CanadaКанада]] <small>(sinceод 1983)</small>
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Parramatta,Парамата New(Нов SouthЈужен WalesВелс)|ParramattaПарамата]], [[AustraliaАвстралија]]
*{{flagicon|ETHЕтиопија}} [[AddisАдис AbabaАбеба]], [[EthiopiaЕтиопија]] <small>(sinceод 2004)</small>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[SeattleСиетл]], [[United StatesСАД]]
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[AdanaАдана]], [[TurkeyТурција]] <small>(sinceод 2001)</small>
||
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[ClujКлуж-NapocaНапока]], [[RomaniaРоманија]]
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[LaЛа PlataПлата]], [[ArgentinaАргентина]]
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[RosenheimРозенхајм]], Germany[[Германија]]
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[WuppertalВупертал]], [[GermanyГерманија]]<small>(sinceод 1977)</small>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[LyonЛион]], France [[Франција]]<small>(sinceод 1977)</small><ref name="Lyon">{{cite web|url=http://www.lyon.fr/vdl/sections/en/villes_partenaires/villes_partenaires_2/?aIndex=1|title=''Partner Cities of Lyon and Greater Lyon'' |publisher=[[copyright|©]] 2008 Mairie de Lyon|accessdate=2008-10-21}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SRB}} [[NišНиш]], [[SerbiaСрбија]]
*{{flagicon|CIV}} [[BouakéБуаке]], [[IvoryБрег Coastна Слоновата Коска]]<ref>{{web cite|url=http://mairiebke.e-monsite.com/pages/jumelage/villes-amies.html|title=Villes amies de Bouaké|trans_title=Twin towns with Bouaké|publisher=mairiebke.e-monsite.com|language=French|accessdate=2014-08-20}}</ref>
|}
==See alsoНаводи==
* [[Battle of Beersheba (1917)|Battle of Beersheba]] (First World War)
* [[Beer Sheva Park (Seattle)|Beer Sheva Park]], [[Seattle]]
* [[:File:BeershevaRegion1940s.jpg|Map of Beersheba and surrounds in the 1940s and 1950s]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==Литература==
==Bibliography==
* Thareani-Sussely, Yifat, "The 'Archaeology of the Days of Manasseh' Reconsidered in the Light of Evidence From The Beersheba Valley," ''Palestine Exploration Quarterly'', 139,2 (2007), 69–77.
==Надворешни врски==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Beersheba}}
* [http://www.beer-sheva.muni.il/ Градски совет на Бершева]
{{wikivoyage-inline|Beer Sheva}}
* [httphttps://wwwsecure.flickr.com/groups/beer-sheva.muni.il/ BeershebaФотографии Cityод CouncilБершева]
* [http://web.bgu.ac.il/Eng/Home/ Универзитет Бен-Гурион]
* [https://secure.flickr.com/groups/beer-sheva/ Selection of photos from Beer-Sheva] from [[flickr]]
* [http://webwww.bgubbc.acco.iluk/Engdna/Homeh2g2/alabaster/A4499625 Ben-GurionТуристички Universityводич]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A4499625 The city of Beersheba: a tourist's guide]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02518a.htm Beer-Sheva] – Historical article from the [[Catholic Encyclopedia|Catholic Encyclopaedia]]
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22682910-2702,00.html Light Horse charges again] Article written by Martin Chulov, published in The Australian, November 1, 2007, the descendants of the Australian light-horsemen rode into the centre of Beersheva, re-enacting the gallant gallop of October 31, 1917
* [http://www.aliciapatterson.org/APF001971/Downie/Downie04/Downie04.html Israel Builds] Expansion and architecture of Beersheva in the 1960s and 1970s
* [http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=175455 Blueprint for Beersheba]
*{{cite web |last=Goodchild |first=Philip |author2=Talbert, Andrew |title=Beersheba & Abraham |url=http://www.bibledex.com/israel/beersheba.html |work=Bibledex in Israel |year= 2010 |publisher=[[Brady Haran]] for the [[University of Nottingham]]}}
* Tsagai Asamain, [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/Projects_Item_eng.asp?subject_id=10&site_id=9&id=71 Be'er Sheva-Compound C:Conservation measures during the excavation], [http://www.antiquities.org.il/home_eng.asp Israel Antiquities Authority Site] - [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/index_eng.asp Conservation Department]
* Yardena Etgar and Ofer Cohen, [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/Projects_Item_eng.asp?subject_id=10&site_id=9&id=8 Tel Be’er Sheva: The Underground Water Reservoir System], [http://www.antiquities.org.il/home_eng.asp Israel Antiquities Authority Site] - [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/index_eng.asp Conservation Department]
* Shauli Sela and Fuad Abu-Taa, [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/Projects_Item_eng.asp?subject_id=10&site_id=9&id=25 The Turkish Mosque and the Governor’s House: Conservation of the stone and plaster], [http://www.antiquities.org.il/home_eng.asp Israel Antiquities Authority Site] - [http://www.iaa-conservation.org.il/index_eng.asp Conservation Department]
{{Израел-никулец}}
{{South District (Israel)}}
{{Largest Israeli cities}}
[[Category:HistoryГрадови ofво IsraelИзраел]]
[[Category:ChessЈужен inокруг Israel(Израел)]]
[[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations]]
[[Category:Beersheba|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Southern District (Israel)]]
| 