Nir Oz

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Nir Oz
נִיר עֹז‎
نير عوز
Nir Oz is located in Northwest Negev region of Israel
Nir Oz
Nir Oz
Coordinates: 31°18′37″N 34°24′8″E / 31.31028°N 34.40222°E / 31.31028; 34.40222Coordinates: 31°18′37″N 34°24′8″E / 31.31028°N 34.40222°E / 31.31028; 34.40222
CountryIsrael
DistrictSouthern
CouncilEshkol
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded1 October 1955
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2019)[1]
387

Nir Oz (Hebrew: נִיר עֹז, ניר עוז, lit. Meadow of Strength) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. It is located in the northwestern Negev desert between Magen and Nirim, and covers 20,000 dunams. Nir Oz is under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council. In 2019 it had a population of 387.[1]

History[]

Founded on 1 October 1955, as a Nahal settlement, it was recognized as a kibbutz two months later.

Due to its proximity to Gaza, Nir Oz farmers often come under Palestinian sniper fire. In 2008, the Israel Defense Forces asked the kibbutz to harvest its potatoes at night to lower the risk of attack.[2] On 5 June 2008, a mortar bomb fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Nirlat paint factory on the kibbutz, killing an employee and wounding four others. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.[3]

Economy[]

In addition to agriculture, Nir Oz has a factory for silicon sealant products and an engineering firm. In recent years, Nir Oz has become a major grower of asparagus for export.[4]

Water conservation[]

In 1960, Nir Oz introduced a long-term water saving gardening project on 27 acres (110,000 m2) of kibbutz land. Some 750 drought-resistant plants have been tested. The garden, designed by landscape architect Hayyim Kahanovich, uses only 50% of the water used in the center and north of the country. The project is conducted in cooperation with Ben Gurion University of the Negev and serves as a study and observation site for researchers, gardeners, teachers and students from all over the country.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Population in the Localities 2019" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. ^ The moon works against Nir Oz farmers Haaretz
  3. ^ Nir Oz under attack Prime Minister's Office
  4. ^ Digging for white gold Haaretz
  5. ^ Wise gardening in Kibbutz Nir Oz Ministry of Environmental Protection

External links[]

  • Nir Oz Negev Information Center
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