JNF Discussions on whether to buy lands in the Negev- Minutes of the Meeting Held in the JNF Offices in Jerusalem
(22 November 1926)
Introduction: The Jewish National Fund held a prolonged debate and detailed discussion on when and whether to purchase land in the areas in Beersheba and the Negev. After having acquired major land areas in the Jezreel Valley, along the Mediterranean Coast, the decision was made to wait to buy lands in the Negev, partially due to existing funds were tied up in existing contracts with Arabs or signed contracts, or funds to be allocated to pending contracts such as Emek Hepher/Kfar Vitkin north of Tel Aviv.
Record Group, KKL5, Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem, Israel
Present at the beginning of the meeting: Menachem Ussishkin, Shlomo Kaplansky,
D. Shtern, Akiva Ettinger, Dr. Avraham Granovsky, Yehoshua Hankin, Dr. Jacob Thon,
E. Kroiza, Dr. Arthur Ruppin.
Joined the meeting while in process: Abraham Hartzfeld, A. Koller,
Berl Katzenelson, and Yitzhak Eliezer (Volcani) Vilkanski.
Ussishkin: I’ve gathered you today, and four more participants who will join us later, to discuss the issue settling the Negev. The question is if time has arrived for us, and for the Settlement Department to examine the question of purchasing land in the Negev. This is not a new issue. In the London Conference of 1919 Weizmann related to the issue of the Negev, and Vilkanski’s opinion at the time was that this might be the solution to the whole settlement enterprise.
During the seven years that have passed since then we concentrated specifically on the northern part of the country and not on the Negev. But the Negev always remained a high priority on our agenda. There are some people who are interested in the subject and there were few proposals that have reached us in the passing year. Presently the issue has been “awaken” again because of a concrete proposal made by the Palestine Land Development Company (PLDC). This, of course, is not just a question of purchasing a parcel of land – a matter that the Directorate of the JNF can independently undertake. This is a much broader and important problem, which requires the consultation of all the elements that have a vested interest and understanding of the settlement of the country.
The primary question is whether the time has arrived in which we can inquire about this issue realistically. Even if the JNF had had a lot of money, and let’s assume for the sake of our discussion that the money is available, can we actually undertake settlement projects in the Negev before concluding our endeavors in the center and the north of Eretz Israel.
The next question is as follows: While the JNF does not have enough funds to fulfill the most essential requirements to increase the size of the existing centers, does it have the means and the time to initiate an undertaking in the Negev. The third question does not relate directly to the JNF, but rather what the Settlement Department thinks about it. Let’s assume that the JNF agrees and capable to start purchasing lands in the Negev. Would the Settlement Department consider it worthwhile to deal with this problematic issue, or may find it an insurmountable task?
And if we raise questions with regard to land purchases and to the creation of new centers, then which one has a priority? Trans-Jordan, or the Negev? And if the Settlement Department may consider that time is ripe, when would be the proper time to begin, and how we should start specifically?
Well, these are the questions that we have to discuss. It should be made clear that that this meeting has no official standing. We will not arrive at decisions here. We shall only produce a protocol for the Board of Directors. However, it is essential that we relate to every single question so that we understand the condition once the opportunity presents itself. This is the purpose of this meeting. I would now like to ask one of the representatives of the PLDC to express his opinion or present a proposal.
Yehoshua Hankin: I assume that you all know how much land we can purchase in Eretz Israel in the next ten years. The areas are as follows: In the south, half a million dunams; in Bet Shean Valley, despite the foreseeable difficulties, about 200,000 dunams; in the lowland and the Shomron – 150,000 dunams; in Yehuda – 50,000 dunams; in the area east of the Jordan River – 1,000,000 dunams; on west side of the Jordan River, in the Negev region, we have the possibility of purchasing 500,000 dunam’s and an additional 500,000 dunams in various other locations. We can’t totally desert the Negev. Gaza is about to be developed and there are plans to construct an airport. Another airport is planned to be constructed near Be’er Sheva. We can’t totally leave this place now. There are no more available deeds. It is conceivable that land will be available in the future and we will be able to purchase it with mortgages. My firm opinion is that we can’t leave the Negev. My suggestion is that we purchase every year 50,000 dunams in the Negev. The prices may vary according to locations: from half Egyptian Pound to one Egyptian Pound per dunam. Near Be’er Sheva the price per dunam is already 1.25 Egyptian Pound. This is an issue that we should consider now.
Menachem Ussishkin: What will happen if we purchase the land today and not populate it with settlers? Will this land remain under havoc circumstances all the time? And when time arrives to settle this land will it be necessary to go through various legal procedures?
Yehoshua Hankin: There is no reason to fear. We have certain methods which we employ in such circumstances. We may give this land to another Arabs in a pre-arranged procedure. There is no reason to be concerned about the legality of the act or worry about repercussions from the government.
Arthur Ruppin: Is it possible to keep our hold of the land even if we don’t populate it for as long as five years? And how are we going to generate income from this land?
Yehoshua Hankin: There will be an income to cover our expenses.
Kaplanski: Who owns the land now?
Hankin: Tribes. But we have to purchase the land from each one and it is necessary to get a deed from each holder of the land.
Kaplanski: Do they have deeds on these lands?
Hankin: On some.
Kaplanski: Did they use to have deeds?
Hankin: not in the past. But now they have.
Dr. Thon: There was a dispute between two Bedouin Tribes. The Turkish Government decided to confiscate the disputed land. During the tenure of (the High Commissioner) Herbert Samuel, the British Government wanted to rectify the situation. The case was brought to trial and the tribes won their case against the government.
We know how difficult it is to obtain large areas in desired places. We also know that we already acquired the best there was in Eretz Israel. These were purchases of large areas in the (Jezreel) Valley and only remnants are left. On the one hand the current areas are not very safe where we can deal with one person who is fully trusted. On the other hand it will be impossible, in most cases, to get the same comfortable payments that we had in the past. Most likely we’ll have to have the money in advance. We will be able only to acquire small additions to what we have already purchased in the past. Namely, adding bits here and there but not huge provinces as in the past few years.
The only area that we can still consider for the purchase of large and unified parcels is the Negev. On the one hand there are 18,000 dunams of which their owners have titles to and the purchases should not be very complicated. But in the rest of the areas we will have to arrange the issue of the titles of those who live there and then arrange the transference of these titles to our name. It’s not only a very slow process but it requires us to cooperate with the government. Whether we like it or not, we will have to adjust to the slow pace of the government. This may turn out to be a very slow process, so we better start right away and have a foothold in the area.
It is like the example that Hankin often uses: How we settled in Merhavia in 1911 while the general settlement in the Valley had to wait for a long time, where at least we had a foothold in the area. The same has to apply to the Negev. At the moment we can’t find answers to all the issues of settling there. But we do know that we cannot give up this important region of the country. This is why it is essential to start as soon as possible. Since Hankin is participating in this meeting, I would like to add one more thing. You are all aware of the fact that the labor of purchasing the lands falls primarily on Hankin’s shoulders. But he is getting old (62) and is watching impatiently as days pass by with no new project. We have to take advantage of him, while he is still strong and healthy. This new undertaking in the Negev cannot be done by a lawyer. It is an issue of national magnitude. We are already into this project. So far we have invested in it 4,500 Egyptian Pounds.
Ussishkin: In how many dunams?
Hankin: The contract is on 50,000 dunams. Now we are taking care of the registration of the titles.
Kaplinski: At what price?
Hankin: Pound and a quarter per dunam near Be’er Sheva.
Dr. Thon: We should try and increase our purchase by acquiring additional 18,000 dunams near Be’er Sheva, which is only ten minutes away from the city by a cart.
Ussishkin; What are the payment arrangements?
Dr. Thon: We have to pay cash money up front.
Hankin: We are working on this project for more than a year already. But now when the Arabs already have titles we have to act fast.
Kaplanski: I do not know if I should start a debate (Ussishkin: it’s not a debate it’s an evaluation). However, the Settlement Department did not know the specifics of this problem. I can speak only in general terms. It seems to me that Hankin and the PLDC were right in advocating a speedy purchase of huge chunks of land for relatively small sums of money. But I can’t agree with the numbers that Hankin quoted. I cannot agree that on the western side of the Jordan Valley we can purchase only 1,000,000 dunams and only half of which is north of Be’er Sheva. According to the government’s figures, there are 20 million dunams in this area. 10 million of which are either fit for cultivation or being already cultivated. On the eastern side of the (Jordan) river there is a clear problem: we can’t settle there yet but at least we can purchase large areas. Here again I don’t agree with Hankin’s figures.
According to the government’s figures there are in that area 10 million dunams, half of which is already cultivated.
So with regard to the western side of the river, we can probably purchase half of the cultivated area, namely, four to five million dunams. To talk about purchasing only one million dunams in the next 10 years, seems very modest. (Hankin: it should not be forgotten that purchasing land from the Bedouins is very difficult. The Bedouin does not give up his land.) If such is the case, it should be our incentive to exploit the existing opportunities. It seems that in due time, judging by the way things are happening in Eretz Israel the Bedouins may acquire titles and undergo a process of settling down. So it’s better to buy land from them before they get attached to the land. We have to buy, but I can’t answer the question what we should do with this land for the time being.
The Negev is a strategic area and we have to settle it in great force and with small and isolated settlements. We should wait until the JNF is able to locate large areas. We also have to investigate the water resources. In the meantime, it may be right to start with an experimental agricultural station. I have in front of me a report on the Negev that was done by the British. The report is based on a visit to three places. It states that there are limited sources of water in general and for irrigation specifically. Nevertheless, there are possibilities for having water in the Negev. I also think that from a climate perspective it is a healthy place. We have to buy land here because it is inexpensive. We have to consider two conditions: First, there must be an option to purchase large, concentrated areas, and second, we should have ample time for sufficient research.
Dr. Thon: It seems to me that we cannot compare Trans-Jordan to the Negev. Trans-Jordan is something for the future. Even from a political standpoint we cannot compare the two areas. We started to talk about the Negev already in 1918, though it was not realistic at the time. It is only recently that we started to relate to the Negev as a real possibility.
Kroiza: In the past I became twice interested in the Negev. The first time was in 1915. I was doing it then at the request of Jamal Pasha (a notorious Turkish military leader and the commander of the Ottoman army in Syria). My mission was to go to the Negev and find out in what intersections on the road from Eretz Israel to the Suez Canal, it is possible to create camps for soldiers on their mission to conquer Egypt.
I was in Be’er Sheva and further south trying to define the locations according to the climate. I divided the Negev into Desert and Half-Desert regions. If, for example, we take an imaginary line that starts at Gaza going towards Hebron and continue the line to the Dead Sea, then the area which is south of that line falls into the category of Half-Desert. This category ends along the line that starts at Arad, continues via El-Hafir and ends in Ma’an (in Trans-Jordan). The size of this area is about 10,000 square Kilometers which translate to 10-12 million dunams. How do I define Half-Desert region? This is a region that receives 200-300 millimeters of rain per year. The rainy season here is much shorter than in the center of Eretz Israel where the rainy season lasts from four to five months, compared to irregular rainy season of three to four months in the Half-Desert region.
Below that line starts the Desert region. In the desert region there is less than 200 millimeters of rain per year, and without artificial irrigation nothing can be done.
Let us see who resides in the Half-Desert region. In the northern part of it there are farmers and in large sections there are Bedouins too. They cultivate the land in primitive methods and exhaust the land. They are usually sowing the same grains year after year. In many areas they are sowing very superficially and very close to the surface. My observation is that in a ten year period they may have two, three, maximum four harvests. In the past few years, their lands yielded very small, or no harvests at all. (Kaplinski: Is it because of their antiquated methods, or because of natural causes?). It is a combination of these two factors. The soil is relatively rich. The main shortcoming is the large accumulation of lime because of the climatic conditions and lack of rain.
I presented a report to Jamal Pasha with a conclusion that in the entire Half-Desert region we can plant non-bearing fruit trees Which will provide shade for the convenience of his soldiers. He then assigned me to the task of planting trees in all the proposed areas. We planted trees near Be’er Sheva, El-Hafir and even further south. In a follow-up visit to the region I witnessed that the trees were striving. I then suggested to him to introduce to the area advanced methods of mechanically driven agriculture, because little can be achieved by using conventional methods. I agree with those who suggest establishing an experimental agricultural farm in the Negev. But not just on few hundred dunams. We have to do it on thousands of dunams and use modern methods.
It is my opinion that there should be no distinction between good or bad land in Eretz Israel. We have to buy it all. However, I do not agree with those who say that we should purchase land and let the Arabs stay there for the time being. It may be politically correct, but from settlement and agricultural stand points we should independently find out what we can do, what methods to use, search for water and decide what to plant. I totally agree with Vilkanski that we have to purchase and settle on large areas
.
We can’t leave the land to the Arabs. It’s impractical. We would have insurmountable obstacle to evacuate them and it will hinder our settlement’s enterprise. I suggest employing people who can operate tractors. In one single day a worker on a tractor can plow hundreds of dunams. We also have to utilize advanced and mechanized tools for threshing and harvesting. The initial work of “conquering” the lands should not be too costly.
Vilkanski: We are returning to the Negev “Palace”, as we used to define the London Conference. The Negev is misleading when we relate to some of its areas. From Gaza to the border of the desert there are places of orange groves. In Khan Yunis there is water well and thriving groves of oranges and almonds. The areas along this line should not be called Negev. It’s not the Negev the way we relate to it. The same reservation applies to the area between Be’er Sheva and Hebron because there is water there as much as in Degania. (Ussishkin: We are talking about 50,000 dunams from Be’er Sheva to the Negev). That’s right, but we are aspiring to achieve a specific goal. The area from Be’er Sheva towards north is one complex. There is another complex near the wells of the Turks, but this is not yet a desert and it’s not a very large area. The large area is from Be’er Sheva to Rafah.
I would like to present now a short review of the situation in pursuance to Kroiza’s idea. During the war I had an idea that we might receive from the government two million dunams and I wrote about it to Weizmann. I went to the Negev together with Aharonson and two senior British officers. We went from Gaza to Rafah and we spent there approximately 10-12 days. We did not go to Be’er Sheva this time, but in the past I made the trip from Be’er Sheva to Gaza few times. We covered the area in carts. We saw excellent plains that can be seen only in the Jordan Valley in Eretz Israel. The soil seemed very good. And we wrote about it in our report. We found good fields and in areas that were not sowed we found stalks and stems and that’s why the government refused to give us the land. The Arabs sowed the land between some lines and when we asked them why, they explained that they were trying to save as much humidity in the soil as possible. Aaronson found a great variety of flora and also large legumes. We also found, where once stood a military base Australian barley and oats that were probably spilled from where the horses were fed, and the plants reached a height of more than an average person’s. We passed all the places that had trees. There is no way that this area can be defined as desert. We saw cows in the fields and the soil rendered good harvests. With regards to water it should be known that the Germans were busy drilling water wells but found nothing. The British thought that there is no water there for irrigation.
As for Be’er Sheva it’s hard to say that water may not be found there. The city is developing into a great regional center. We might lose that area, though I don’t think that buying land there will directly affect our aspirations for the Negev. However, we do have to consider the lands near Be’er Sheva. We’ll have to examine the quality of the soil, the availability of lands, its proximity to the desert, and the possibility of purchasing large block. I think that we should buy land there, otherwise it will be lost. With advanced farming methods we may succeed.
Ettinger: I believe in the Negev and its future. Our country is tiny, and we have to take what’s available. But I think that settling the Negev should start after we have settled all the Valleys. The question is, should we start taking an action in the Negev or not? I think that we should start but on a small scale. We have to purchase 5,000-6,000 dunams of the A-Sir land. It has great value. It’s close to the city and it will allow us to conduct a variety of experiments. But I am considering the difficult financial situation of the JNF. There are important lands in the Jezreel Valley that we have to redeem, and similar cases exist near the moshavot in Yehuda. There are additional areas that we must purchase in the Jordan Valley. That is why we have to purchase the land near Be’er Sheva for the least possible amount. In addition to limited purchases we also have to establish a special committee that will take its time to investigate all the possibilities in the Negev, including places where we think that there is no water.
Dr. Ruppin: I divide the land of Eretz Israel to three categories of importance. The third of which we should exclude altogether. From what I have heard today I still cannot make up my mind whether we should include or exclude the Negev from the third category. In my opinion we should experiment with a settlement and not with a station.
I have been to the Negev numerous times. I have visited the ruins of ancient cities and we have all read about the Negev in the Bible. The Negev should be in the third category until we decide otherwise. We have to try, but I disagree with Hankin that we should have a plan for 50,000 dunams. If we reach negative results, and find the soil unfit then I say that we need the money for other projects. We will always be short in money. Since we don’t have enough we have to make careful decisions where to invest it. I suggest that we purchase a good place in the Negev and establish there an agricultural settlement. We not only have to determine the conditions of the soil, but also how our people will adjust to the Negev’s climatic conditions. If one person will have to operate a tractor on 500 dunams, we have to find out if it is good or bad. We also have to find out how our people will deal with only three years of good harvest in a decade. We have to experiment with a settlement of 20-25 families.
Shtern: The Settlement Department was interested in1918-1918 in the area that was proposed by Hankin. There are also reports in which specialists predict that water can be found in A-Sir. We have to start with settlement in this area and not with an experimental station, because the price of land will go up. If the Arabs will sense that we are focusing on the south, prices may go down in the center of the country. I think that 25-30 families as Dr. Ruppin suggested, are not enough. A small group like that will leave no impact on the area. (There were failures with small groups in Ruhama, Poria, Kastina and Sarona). We therefore have to start with at least 50 families who will settle on 20-25 thousand dunams. I would divide Eretz Israel to three parts: The Yarden region to Usshiskin; Center to Hartzfeld; South to Vilkanski, where he could apply all his ideas with regards to the Negev.
I suggest that as a first step we should purchase the government’s plant nursery which will soon be auctioned in Gaza. It is a small area (35 dunams), but central. It can serve us as headquarters.
Hartzfeld: I would like to present my view on the Negev. Ussishkin challenged us with the option: Negev, or Trans-Jordan? My firm answer is the Negev. Sometime ago when the question was the Negev or Jezreel Valley, I said: The Valley.
My stand on the Negev stems from political and settlement’s oriented reasons. Trans-Jordan should be settled in a different fashion and by other means. Maybe we will be able to obtain concessions from the Government. But when I am confronted with the question, my response is not to settle the Negev as yet. I also oppose Ruppin’s proposal to make an experimental settlement with 20-25 families. Under the current conditions we cannot start the settlement enterprise in the Negev.
The issue before us is not the Negev proper. If the JNF would like to relate to the Negev as a whole, then the time is not ripe yet. We have a concrete proposal to purchase 18,000 dunams near Be’er Sheva, out of 50,000 dunams parcel. My contention is that this purchase does not relate to the Negev. This is a nice piece of land with availability of water. We saw the water, the old wells and the new one. But the question is what would the JNF do with this purchase? (Vilkanski: The experiment with mechanized agriculture will render us the whole Negev). I am doubtful. I saw the rest of the places. (Kroiza: The climate is the same). What should be the JNF’s stand on the Negev? I say the JNF should take a stand to create, as of now, a land reserve in this area. I say that the time of the Negev has arrived. We will have to relate to the Negev in a wide perspective and in a larger settlement’s approach. It is clear that there will be no dense settlement, but substantial one nevertheless. We’ll have to purchase large areas.
As of today the JNF should have ample financial reserves solely for the Negev. Every year the JNF has to allot, as a matter of principle, a certain percentage of its budget for purchasing land in the Negev. Then we will consider what to do with the land. We should not undertake a settlement project because we don’t have the means, but because we have yet to define the nature of the settlements there. I also am against an experimental station. I propose that we should scatter few people, as much as security allows, and give them large areas to cultivate and evaluate the results. We should not talk about permanent settlements yet but carry out experimentations over a period of few years until we reach the capability to settle the land.
Koller: Half a year ago I participated in a tour of the Negev. The other participants in the tour were Levkovitz, Rachel Yanait and Eliezer Yaffe. We issued a report, but I’m not sure that you have seen it. I’ll present you with a brief review of our commission report. All the areas down to Be’er Sheva and south and west of it left great impression on Eliezer Yaffe who is known to be a reserved person. Our conclusion was positive with regards to settlement, though in a variety forms.
This commission found out that the quality of the soil near Be’er Sheva was not as good as in other areas. The commission divided the area into three regions. One was the western region: from Gaza to the shore. The soil in that area has similar qualities to that around Yaffo. The second region was around Be’er Sheva where we found that the harvest was mostly very poor. We found water there but the soil was not of good quality. The third area was further east. We found there a variety of plants and nice fields. This area is in the vicinity of Tel Arad. Since there is no water there, the Arabs do not reside there year around, but come from Hebron only for the sowing and the harvest seasons. Once they completed their work they return back to Hebron. We think that each settler’s family may need 300 dunams. Every year they will cultivate only half of their area. Levkovitz thinks that it is detrimental for the settlements there to solve the water problem. The solution is to dig wells and preserve rain waters.
It is understood that based on this visit we cannot arrive at certain conclusions. But if we are going to further study the subject, then it is necessary to appoint a committee of specialists that will start touring the area from the west. It is obvious that if we start purchasing land the prices will go up. If we buy land in the vicinity of Be’er Sheva then the prices will also rise in Gaza. We recommended starting our purchase from the direction of Gaza. Ussishkin addressed the Settlement Department with the question, where to invest? – in the center of the country or in the Negev? It seems that everybody has already decided that if we don’t have large areas we should not settle in the Negev. Eliezer Yaffe said that if we do not have 2-3 million dunams in the Negev, we should not start. Even if this number is exaggerated, we do need a lot of land before we start settling.
We have noticed the good qualities of the soil and the excellent climate. We will not have to spend money that we spend in other areas on medicine and on clearing up swamps. Even the issue of roads is not very complicated. All we need is one major road that will connect the Negev to the rest of the country. It is important to start buying now. And as for the question what comes first, the Negev or Trans-Jordan? I say: “Both, the Negev and Trans-Jordan”. If Hankin suggests a plan of purchasing 50,000 dunam a year, we are of the opinion that the JNF should not restrict itself to these figures. However, we should not start now with a settlement project. First we should activate an experimental station and its findings should be of utmost importance in directing us where and how we should arrange the settlements. There is no need to experiment with settlements.
Dr. Granovsky: Since the discussion entails the question whether we should start a project in the Negev, my answer is negative. We have heard some who spoke about the agricultural possibilities in the Negev. All that we have heard was either negative or marked as a question, namely, everything is doubtful. There ishardly anything which is absolutely clear. On the other hand there is an issue that has not been related to.
Everybody said that the price of the land is cheap. But the price of land is not an abstract matter. The question remains how much an agricultural unit cost. Some compared the price of 600 dunams in the Negev to 100 dunams in the Valley. And if we disregard the price issue all that’s left are negative things. If we enter the Negev it needs to be done in large undertaking. We need to buy 1-2 million dunams as fast as possible because the prices will go up. I have no idea whether prices will go down elsewhere, but in the Negev they will most certainly go up. Once we start purchasing land in the Negev, I can already see many Jews in Eretz Israel, who will enter the land market without knowing anything about it and create a havoc.
From the little I know there is a great danger in entering now the Negev project. We don’t even know the basic conditions. There is an issue of experimentation, which is very important. We do have to determine where to purchase a parcel of land. It needs to be near Be’er Sheva so when time arrives we should be able to purchase more land. In principle, I think that we should own land next to every Arab town or village, but that’s already a different aspect of the issue. What I am referring to is different from what Vilkanski referred to.
Our experiment near the town of Be’er Sheva may not teach us about other places. (Vilkanski: I said a certain distance from Be’er Sheva which is similar to other areas.) We need to carry out an experiment and let’s suffice with that. Everything we do today may endanger us in the future. Once we get in, we are already committed for the next decade. This means that we shall need large sums of money during the next decade for purchasing lands in the Negev. Hankin said that we can leave the acquired lands in the hands of the Arabs for the time being. But for how long? If we should purchase half a million dunams this means that the center of our activities will move to the Negev. Are we ready to do so? On the other hand, I cannot discern all the advantages. I object entering the Negev in a large scale. It is essential that we do a preparatory work. We have to appoint specialists to do that job.
Katzenelson: It is very difficultto say no to purchasing land in Eretz Israel. But we have to approach the Negev from a different perspective. I maintain that Trans-Jordan is more preferable than the Negev. But this is not relevant now.
The question now is what is more important, land in Be’er Sheva, or next to Hadera or near Yavneh? We already are in danger of losing the strip of land along the sea. It is my opinion that our financial situation does not allow us to undertake a serious action in the Negev. So it is better not to venture into it. I think that a dunam in the Sharon for a price of 10 Egyptian pounds is worth much more than a dunam in the Negev for one Egyptian pound. I will not agree to an act of settlement without the consideration of all the elements involved.
We send people so that we may be able to extract food from the land and earn livelihood. Indeed, we don’t assume responsibility for Nahalal and Ein Harod, but we should assume minimum responsibility for the Negev. We know nothing about the Negev. If we send 20 families, then we have to worry about school etc. The Zionist Executive will have extra expenses that may not be met or will not have a return on the investment. We may have to consider a small farm that could serve as an experimental station, but not as a settlement.
Hankin: From a standpoint of land’s politics every parcel is of greatimportance. We have to allow every district to “rest” for a certain period of time. We did so in the (Jezreel) Valley. When I speak about a ten year period, I perceive it as a master plan and even if you had a billion pounds you would not be able to buy more. However, if we use our good judgment in purchasing than prices will not go much higher. Six years ago we bought land in the Valley for certain prices and in the years that followed we purchased more lands for prices that at times were even lower. You have to have to be tactful when purchasing land.
Kaplanski: Do large purchases in the Negev have an effect on the prices in the country?
Hankin: Whenever we leave a district it affects the prices in other areas.
Ettinger: I would like to compare the urgency of buying land in the Negev with other areas. When I observe in the Yehuda region how we miss great opportunities every day, I get scared. The same applies to the Plains region, the Sharon Valley and to north of Yaffo. All these lands are being lost. The same thing happens in the (Zevulun) Valley south of the Kishon (river); in Beit Shean – a pearl that we neglect – and in the most important lands in the Jordan Valley. Instead of purchasing lands with secured water resources we go to areas where there is no water. If we purchase large area in the Negev we would neglect important areas that have water. With regard to the current situation, we don’t have the financial resources to purchase land reserve in the Negev. If we found a way to secure large sums of money then we might go the Negev. Without big money we will be able to purchase only few thousands of dunams. There is a big difference between scientific experiment which I support and a settlement experiment which I oppose. We have to investigate large areas – the whole Negev from Be’er Sheva to Aqaba. We should also seriously research the southern, the western and the eastern regions of the Negev. In conclusion, I suggest that we should venture into large purchases only when we have the money; buy enough land to expand the town of Be’er Sheva; make a thorough research and better start now.
Dr. Thon: If we had the financial means we could have discussed the Negev’s question in its wider scope. But the current situation even makes a purchase of 50,000 dunams doubtful. If we had the necessary sum we would have compared between the options of purchasing 50,000 dunams in the Negev or buying 10,000 or 5,000 dunams somewhere else. But at the moment this comparison is unrealistic. We are not discussing how and where to spend 50,000 Egyptian pounds. On the other hand there is no room for comparison between the Negev and Trans-Jordan as much as there is no comparison between what there is and what there is not. In public appearances we may deploy rhetoric and use platitudes. But trans-Jordan does not exist for us today. Trans-Jordan for me is unrealistic, as much as Aram-Naharaim is unrealistic for Syria. Maybe time will arrive for Trans-Jordan in two or six years, but as for now it is unrealistic. However, the Negev is real. We have some contracts that according to our understanding can materialize in a year. There is the reality of the A-Sir land. There is land available near Be’er Sheva. The town has a train station and roads in and out of town. The place has also significant historical value and is an important economic center. This is the subject that we have to discuss today. We should consider a purchase of minimum 10,000 dunams, and whether to pursue extensive research in the Negev in the near future. The cardinal question if there is water. The issue here is whether we should spend 10,000-12,000 Egyptian pounds and purchase 10,000 dunams in the Negev, or neglect this region, which is important to our hold of the country, and purchase 2,000 dunams somewhere else?
Ussishkin: First,we have already elaborated on the issues that Dr. Thon has presented. But I’ll relate to them too. I was first interested in Beer Sheva 23 years ago. I was there when there were only few houses. I was introduced to this issue by the late Antabi, at the demand of the Jerusalem Pasha who offered us 500,000 dunams for half a Frank per dunam. I went there with Antabi and Eizenberg and we spent there few days. It was clear to me that it was irrelevant whether the soil is good or not. For that price we had to accept the offer. The question was whether we could protect the unsettled lands. But I thought that even if somebody stole part of the land we would still have the rest. Pursuant to our visit to the area I sent a detailed report to Vienna, to the late Dr. Herzl and emphasized the need to purchase the land. I asked for a response by telegram. Dr. Herzl responded that until we have a charter in Constantinople we will not buy the land. He added that I should not consider purchasing the land with other sources, and at the time I was not yet the Chairman of “Hovevey Zion”. I brought this story up to indicate that already then I had a positive attitude towards the Negev, even without researching its agricultural viability. I know that there are sands and dunes there, and that there is no water. But it is not a laughing matter for us to give up one third of the country. The research and the investigation will be done after the purchase. It is necessary to purchase first. It is essential that the land should be in Jewish hands. From an agricultural standpoint this is the worse land in Eretz Israel. We can establish that fact without research. I am talking about 8,000,000 dunams. This is different from the lands of the Valley, Hasharon and Trans-Jordan. There is no doubt that we have to buy the land. The question is when is the right time, today, tomorrow, or maybe in five years? If we take this approach then I suggest not now, for two reasons. The first is that even if we get a loan of a million pounds we still have a lot of work to do in the center of the country and along the seashore. We cannot neglect the best places and move to other areas. Second, from a political point of view we have to weigh the dangers. It is clear to me that all the lands in the areas of our settlements are in danger. The danger may emanate from speculators, the government or the affluent Arab landowners, and hinder our chances to purchase additional lands. Such dangers do not exist in the Negev. The Negev itself is no danger because there are no buyers. And even if there were, there are still million dunams more. For me, an area is very important, not just the price. We have to invest every penny we have in endangered areas.
As for Trans-Jordan, Dr. Thon regards it as a distant issue. I believe that the question of Trans-Jordan will be resolved soon, not by the government and in our favor. If there is a possibility to purchase lands there then I agree with Katzenelson that Trans-Jordan has a priority. Because of all these considerations, now is not the right time to invest large sums in the Negev. Maybe in five years the money will come from some sources. And if by then we have completed our tasks in other areas we’ll be ready for the Negev. At that time we will not allow Kaplansky and Shtern to begin the settlement project in the Negev unless we have in our possession one million dunams. This is because purchases cause for prices to go up and more so when there are already settlements there too. That is why we can’t start purchasing lands in the Negev at a pace of 50,000 dunams per year. We can’t do much there even in a more modest fashion. We all agree with the other suggestion of purchase some land near Be’er Sheva.
Here is my concrete proposal. We shall further discuss this issue with the Board of Directors of the JNF. We are saying to the PLDC that for the time being we are not starting anything in the Negev. We are not giving up the Negev. It has to be Jewish. As for a concrete proposal from the PLDC for a small purchase, we will respond upon agreeing on all the relevant aspects.
Hankin: 30 years ago I have arranged with (the Government in) Constantinople to purchase lands around Gaza and Be’er Sheva for 1.5 frank per dunam. At the same time I also arranged the purchase of lands along the seashore for three Franks per dunam. Time has gone by. I would like to take this opportunity and say that I’m old and losing my patience. If you don’t provide us (the PLDC) with means to make deals along the sea and in Beit Shean – for which we need, 20,000 pounds per year – I then must leave the place. I am going for a year.
Ussishkin: as far as these two areas are concerned we are in full agreement with you. The question is how to execute it. We shall talk about it but not at this meeting.
Vilkanski: I am in touch with the Political Department with regard to establishing experimental stations in Gaza and in Be’er Sheva. The key will be in the hands of those who own these stations. If the government takes the initiative then it will promote the area. If we are to do it then we will control the future of the area, because of our acquired knowledge about the climate, rain and soil. I understand that we are not here to decide on this issue. But if we don’t take the initiative, the government will.
Ussishkin: if we have the means and buy next to Be’er Sheva, then we will know.
Dr. Granovsky: It implies that we want to buy land near Be’er Sheva. Will this area be large enough for an experimental station too?
Kaplanski: Since Ussishkin said that research will be done after purchase, I agree only to purchasing large areas. But we should not purchase large areas unless we do our research first. The JNF should consult with us what is the necessary area near Be’er Sheva for serious research and experiments. I object to an experimental settlement.
Ussishkin: My position is that we need to buy a small parcel of land near Be’er Sheva. After we purchase the land we will convene again to decide what else is necessary.
Dr. Thon: The direction should not be the creation of a town or expanding an existing one but investigating the viability of agricultural settlement.
Ussishkin: The majority of those present here agrees that time is not ripe for an extensive work and large land purchases in the Negev.
We all agree that it is necessary to buy a parcel of land near Be’er Sheva in order to get a foothold there, and then discuss further steps.
There is a consensus on the issues of purchasing lands along the sea and in the Valley. We all hold the firm opinion that we shall never give up the Negev, regardless of the results of the experiments and the research.
Source: Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem, Yehoshua Hankin files, A238/13