Former IDF General Leads Effort to Establish New Kibbutz in Negev Desert
A new, cooperative kibbutz is being established in Israel's Negev Desert, the first such initiative in nearly 40 years. Spearheaded by retired Brigadier General Gal Shachami and a diverse group of families, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, farmers, and former officers, the project aims to blend advanced agriculture, energy, tourism, and a shared community for both religious and secular residents.
The group, known as the 'Yachad Adam V'Adama' (Together, People and Earth) nucleus, recently held a joint camping event in the planned location near Tel Arad to foster unity and visualize their future settlement. Despite initial challenges with park rangers regarding camping regulations, the group relocated and demonstrated their commitment to the site.
Shachami envisions a self-sustaining community integrating Jewish and Bedouin agriculture and business, emphasizing a Zionist ethos and a desire to foster a more meaningful life away from the perceived superficiality of urban centers. The initiative is part of a broader government plan approved in 2022 to establish new rural communities in the area, with Shachami's group winning a tender to develop one of the sites.
The project anticipates significant financial and bureaucratic hurdles but plans to break ground by late 2027, initially housing 120 families in temporary mobile homes, with a goal of doubling that number within a decade. The kibbutz's economy will focus on advanced desert agriculture (agritech), desert tourism, renewable energy, and research and development, with plans for hydroponic farms, solar energy systems, and energy storage solutions. Shachami expressed confidence in generating substantial revenue through these ventures, which will be shared among members, with a corporate structure planned where members will hold shares.
The establishment of the kibbutz is complicated by the presence of a significant Bedouin population in the region, some of whom reside in unrecognized villages. While the government plan includes a dedicated settlement for the Bedouin population, achieving consensus and resolving land ownership disputes remain significant challenges. Shachami, a third-generation settler and former commander of the 188th Armored Brigade, sees the kibbutz as a microcosm for repairing Israeli society, promoting coexistence and shared responsibility.
