Lachish, an area that sits between the Hebron Mountains and the Gaza Strip, is home to three pre-1948 Kibbutzim: Gal-on, Gat and Negba. The Jewish Agency designates the region for development towns to house newly arriving immigrants. Lachish is now home to nearly 30 towns and agricultural communities, including Kiryat Gat and Moshav Otzem. In 2012, the Lachish regional council reports a population of 9, 200 – all of whom are Jewish.