Merhav Am

Merhav Am (Hebrew: מֶרְחָב עַם, lit. National Expanse) is a religious communal settlement in the Negev desert in Israel. Located between Yeruham and the kibbutz of Sde Boker, it is part of the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council.

History

It was founded by the Or Movement on 1 November 2001 and has a population of around 30 families as of November 2006, many of them living in caravans.

Naming

The original name for the settlement was intended to be Halukim due to its proximity to the Halukim Hills (the nearest road junction is called the Halukim Junction). However, after around a year it was renamed Merhav Am, inspired by the wide open area in which it was to be built, as well as in honour of Rehavam Ze'evi, a former Minister who was assassinated in 2001: In Hebrew Merhav (מרחב - MRHV) means "wide open spaces" whilst Rehavam is spelt using the last three letters of the word plus two more (רחבעם - RHVAM). Combining the two gives Merhav Am (MRHV+AM).

External links

Official website (Hebrew)

Ramat Negev Regional Council

Kibbutzim	Mashabei Sadeh Retamim Revivim Sde Boker Tlalim

Moshavim	Be'er Milka Kmehin

Communal settlements	Ashalim Ezuz Merhav Am Midreshet Ben-Gurion Nitzana Nitzanei Sinai

Coordinates: 30°53′14.22″N 34°49′43.55″E / 30.8872833°N 34.8287639°E / 30.8872833; 34.8287639

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