Ir HaBahadim (City of Training Bases), or Camp Ariel Sharon, is part of project to relocate IDF bases to the Negev. The move aims to transfer expensive land in central Israel, where many bases are located now, to the Israel Lands Administration and to develop the Negev by creating thousands of new jobs. One of the goals was to create an alternative to Tel Aviv, using Beer Sheva as a “second center.” Upon completion this 50 billion NIS project will be the largest military base in the country, with the ability to house over 10,000 IDF recruits. The establishment of this base was seen as the military infrastructure’s largest and most ambitious project ever. The former Economic Adviser to the Chief of Staff said at the time that the IDF’s move to the south will yield six billion dollars per year.
We visited Ir HaBahadim and then examined it’s influence on the region, economically and demographically.
Our field tour included:
A guided tour of the base with its commander Colonel Avi Motola and demonstrations of training simulations for combat medics and drivers
Meeting with the mayor of Yeruham (the closest town to the base), Mr. Michael Bitton and a representative of the Beer Sheva municipality
Meeting with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev representative
