{"data":{"sections":{"00":{"grid":"50-left","direction":"rtl","color":"dark","title":"Ben-Gurion and the Negev","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EThe combination of the words \u201cNegev\u201d and \u201cBen-Gurion\u201d seems an obvious one to almost every Israeli.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBut when did Ben-Gurion begin nurturing his firm stance on the Negev?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EJoin us for a tour of the Archive\u2019s documents\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/BGA_ORK_BNV_005.jpg","height":"698","width":"915","id":"172021","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":1},"01":{"grid":"50-right","direction":"ltr","color":"light","title":"The Aqaba Plan","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn April 1935, Ben-Gurion came to Aqaba for a tour of the Negev and the East Bank. During this journey, he discovers the vast empty spaces, and with them the Negev\u2019s hidden potential. Gradually, Ben-Gurion realizes that the success of Zionism lies in the settlement of the Negev and the utilization of its undiscovered resources. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EUpon his return, he writes a long memo, known as the \u201cAqaba Plan\u201d, for the development and settlement of the Negev, which he then sends to Louis Brandeis.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBrandeis supports Ben-Gurion\u2019s Aqaba Plan and allots it 100 thousand dollars of the Palestine Endowment Fund.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%A2%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%A1%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A3-5.gif","height":"954","width":"750","id":"172022","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%A2%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%A1%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A3-23.gif","height":"960","width":"750","id":"172023","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A1%20%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%92.gif","height":"967","width":"640","id":"172024","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":3},"02":{"grid":"50-left","direction":"rtl","color":"dark","title":"The Partition Plan Proposal","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn 1937, the Peel Commission submits its summary report, which, for the first time, proposes the land be divided into two national entities \u2013 Jewish and Arab. The Commission excludes the Negev from the territory allocated to the Jews. The Zionist leadership headed by Ben-Gurion then proposes a revised plan that, first and foremost, includes the Negev. In this proposal, Ben-Gurion details the Negev\u2019s importance to the Zionist enterprise and the entire country. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%94-1.jpg","height":"1086","width":"680","id":"172025","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%94-2.jpg","height":"1064","width":"680","id":"172026","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%94-3.jpg","height":"1068","width":"680","id":"172027","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%94%20%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA%20%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%94-4.jpg","height":"1063","width":"680","id":"172028","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":4},"03":{"grid":"50-right","direction":"ltr","color":"light","title":"Reply to the Defense Committee","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EToward the end of the British Mandate, with a looming invasion by the Arab armies, the Defense Committee holds discussions on how and what should be defended. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ESome argue for the defense of the existing settlements alone, forfeiting the uninhabited Negev. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBen-Gurion objects, pointing out in his reply to the Defense Committee that \u201cif we do not defend the desert \u2013 there is no Tel Aviv.\u201d\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%AA%20%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%20%D7%94%D7%91%D7%98%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9F-1.gif","height":"1132","width":"750","id":"172029","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%AA%20%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%20%D7%94%D7%91%D7%98%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9F-2.gif","height":"1015","width":"750","id":"172030","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%AA%20%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%20%D7%94%D7%91%D7%98%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9F-3.gif","height":"1003","width":"750","id":"172031","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%AA%20%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%20%D7%94%D7%91%D7%98%D7%97%D7%95%D7%9F-4.gif","height":"1028","width":"750","id":"172032","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/112_2206.jpg","height":"472","width":"664","id":"172033","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":5},"04":{"grid":"50-right","direction":"rtl","color":"dark","title":"Toward the End of the War of Independence","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn the final days of the 1948 War, the southern Negev remains beyond the grasp of the State of Israel. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EToward the end of the War, and during the Armistice Agreements negotiations, Ben-Gurion uses the full extent of his power and leadership to conquer the Negev \u2013 down to Eilat. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn two of the messages we have found, Ben-Gurion urges Yigal Allon to reach Eilat\u2019s shores.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/BGA_ORK_BNV_011.jpg","height":"705","width":"942","id":"172034","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9F%20%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A9%20%D7%94%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%91-1.jpg","height":"803","width":"712","id":"172037","hotspots":[{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EBen-Gurion refers to target points on the way to Eilat:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EMamshit (near Dimona)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEin-Hatzeva\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EZohar (by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.google.co.il\/maps\/place\/Dead+Sea+Lookout\/@31.1460055,35.3473133,15.75z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x1503a8d9493218cb:0xe7e39f81aa150b1b!8m2!3d31.148014!4d35.3510629?hl=en\u0022\u003EZohar Dead-Sea lookout\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","left":"173","top":"165","image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9F%20%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A9%20%D7%94%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%91-2.jpg","height":"472","width":"640","id":"172036","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":3},"05":{"grid":"50-left","direction":"ltr","color":"light","title":"The Negev Committee","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EUpon the end of the war, Ben-Gurion turns his efforts to the development of the Negev. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EFrom his perspective, this is a national campaign. He appoints the Negev Committee to work on the region\u2019s growth. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAnother archived letter reveals that he saw the Negev as a sort of \u201cmilitary exclusion zone\u201d, to which only the most talented and deserving will be sent. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/139_2457.jpg","height":"481","width":"703","id":"172038","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%AA%20%D7%94%D7%A0%D7%92%D7%91.gif","height":"1032","width":"640","id":"172040","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%91%D7%92%20%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%A8%20%D7%94%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%A8.gif","height":"831","width":"536","id":"172041","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":3},"06":{"grid":"50-right","direction":"rtl","color":"dark","title":"Southward","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EIn the 1956-1957 Government Yearbook, Ben-Gurion publishes his \u2013 perhaps most \u2013 famous article, \u201c\u003Cem\u003EDaroma\u003C\/em\u003E\u201d [\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/search-api\/bg_arc\/28431\u0022\u003ESouthward\u003C\/a\u003E]. There, he details his vision for the Negev, and daringly deals with subjects that, these days, seem matter of course: water desalination and solar energy. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/233_4066.jpg","height":"469","width":"661","id":"172042","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]},{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%A2%D7%9E-11.gif","height":"957","width":"750","id":"172043","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":2},"07":{"grid":"50-left","direction":"ltr","color":"light","title":"A Letter to Friends at Sde Boker","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EEven when he spent most of his time in Tel Aviv \u2013 in his roles as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense \u2013 Ben-Gurion always missed his Kibbutz and friends at Sde Boker. \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ETo Ben-Gurion, a cucumber or tomato from the Negev were more than mere vegetables, they were \u201c\u003Cem\u003Ethe products of the spirit of conquering pioneering bravery\u003C\/em\u003E\u201d.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","image":[{"src":"https:\/\/bengurionarchive.bgu.ac.il\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-08\/%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%20%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D%20%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%93%D7%94%20%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%A8.gif","height":"1049","width":"750","id":"172044","hotspots":[{"text":"","left":"","top":0,"image":null}]}],"images_count":1}}}}