H eadlines
enrichment. According to
Tamir Idan, mayor of the Sdot
Negev Regional Council, the
30% growth in the region’s
population and ensuing
popularity as a new destination
for families is “directly related”
to Federation support.

“This is one of the most
exciting and historic decisions
in recent years in Israel in
general, and all the more so in
our area,” said Idan. “Only in
a few years will we know the
consequences of this Zionist
decision on the map of settle-
ment in the Land of Israel
and in the State of Israel, as
well as on the resilience of the
residents of the area.”
Back in 2014, following
the conclusion of Operation
Protective Edge, Idan and
others in the Israeli government
worried about how they would
persuade residents of the Gaza
border towns to remain where
they were. For six years, Idan
has worked with the govern-
ment to make Hanun a reality,
powered by a belief that the
settlement would be expressive
of the country’s values, and by
a sense of responsibility.

“We believe that we have a
duty to lead the region forward,
to make sure that people will
want to come and live here
and to take care of developing
education, culture, sports and
other areas of life,” Idan said.

Michele Levin, chair of
the Committee for Israel and
Global Strategy at Federation,
said that the committee was
pleased to see that the quality
of life in the Sdot Negev
region was such that families
are electing to move there in
greater numbers. Significant
resources have been put
toward the end of convincing
Israelis that an area in the
direct periphery of the Gaza
border could have a future for
them. Federation has helped to
build cultural venues like The
Kaiserman Ethiopian Center,
Annabel Lindy Cultural
Center, the Tannenbaum Music
Conservatory, and Saligman
Early Childhood Education
Center. They have also contrib-
uted to projects that confront
the reality of life in the Gaza
border region, like upgraded
community bomb shelters and
first responders’ equipment.

The construction of Hanun,
she believes, is an indicator
that those resources have been
put to good use.

“That’s a proud point
for Jewish Federation in
Philadelphia, because we really
help support the quality of
life in the region,” Levin said.

According to Idan, a substan-
tial waiting list for homes in
Hanun has already begun
to form.

Mayor Tamir Idan, head of the Sdot Negev Regional Council
Photo by Shai Sharbaf
“The establishment of the
new settlement is the highlight,”
Idan said, “but we must know
that alongside this we also
develop the existing settlements,
upgrade infrastructure in the
public areas, build advanced
sports fields, and of course,
continue to build and expand
the settlements in order to
absorb young families joining
existing families in the Sdot
Negev Regional Council.” l
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