Negev Report Highlights Security Fears, Job Shortages, and Government Distrust
A new report on the Negev reveals low personal security in Beersheba, widespread employment dissatisfaction, and a deep crisis of trust in the government.
A comprehensive new report on the state of the Negev has revealed low personal security in Beersheba and the Eastern Negev, alongside widespread frustration over employment opportunities and a deep crisis of trust in the government. The study, conducted by the Mirazh Foundation, the Ramat HaNegev Regional Council, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with the Atid LaOtef movement and the AJEEC association, is based on a survey of 1,165 respondents from across the region.
According to the findings, 78% of respondents see themselves continuing to live in the Negev in five years, but 10% estimate they will not stay and another 12% are undecided. In Beersheba, the proportion of residents seeing their future in the area is exceptionally low at just 66%. The report indicates that young people, university graduates, families without children, and secular residents are more likely to consider leaving, which could damage the human capital and economic development of the Negev.
Employment stands out as a major source of dissatisfaction, receiving the lowest score among the areas examined at 2.53 out of 5. Approximately 49% of respondents ranked employment as one of the three most important issues for them, yet this is where the largest gap lies between resident priorities and existing local conditions. About half of the respondents reported a lack of job opportunities matching their skills, spanning employees, managers, and students alike.
Security Concerns in Beersheba
One of the most striking findings concerns personal security. The survey shows that the sense of security in Beersheba and the Eastern Negev is as low as in the Tkuma region and the Gaza envelope, though the sources of concern differ. While insecurity in the envelope relates to border proximity and military threats, in Beersheba and the Eastern Negev it stems from local crime and perceived law enforcement weaknesses.
The finding that the sense of security in Beersheba and the Eastern Negev is as low as in the envelope is very disturbing: the fear of personal security from local crime is as strong as the fear of security in wartime, the report states.
The report also highlights a severe crisis of trust between Negev residents and the government. Sixty-seven percent of respondents are unaware of government plans intended for their area, 66% feel their voices are not heard by decision-makers, and 61% are dissatisfied with government policy toward the region.
Evacuation and Return in the Gaza Envelope
In the Tkuma region and the Gaza envelope, the report points to a gap between emergency assistance and the help provided during the return home. The evacuation process received a relatively high score of 3.83 out of 5, and setup grants scored 3.31. In contrast, return assistance received a low score of only 2.12. Furthermore, 66% of business owners surveyed stated that post-October 7 assistance was insufficient.
Prof. Miki Malul, head of Negev strategy at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and a co-author of the report, emphasized the strategic importance of the findings. Strengthening the Negev is a direct investment in security, national resilience, and the future growth of the country, he noted.
