The government on Sunday approved a proposal by Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz and Settlements Minister Orit Struck to establish five new community settlements in the eastern Be’er Sheva metropolitan area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that one of the new communities will be named “Rannanim,” in memory of Ran Gvili, the last hostage.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the decision is part of a broader national initiative aimed at strengthening the Negev, reinforcing Israel’s strategic areas, and deepening civilian and security presence in the south.
Minister Struck said advancing new communities in the northern Negev is a long-standing strategic goal, adding that the project is intended to change the landscape of the central Negev and enhance stability in the area. She praised interministerial cooperation in advancing what she described as a key national objective.