Tzukim
Tzukim (Hebrew: צוּקִים, lit. Cliffs), also Zuqim, is a community settlement in southern Israel. Located in the Arava, 8 km south of Tzofar, it falls under jurisdiction of the Central Arava Regional Council. In 2019 it had a population of 344.[1]
Tzukim
צוּקִים تسوكيم | |
|---|---|
 Tzukim under construction | |
  Tzukim | |
| Coordinates: 30°29′27″N 35°10′0″E | |
| Country | Israel |
| District | Southern |
| Council | Central Arava |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Population (2019)[1] | 344 |
| Name meaning | Cliffs |
History
Tzukim was founded in 2001 on land vacated by the Bildad army camp, which was founded in 1983 and named after Bildad, one of the "friends" of Biblical Job. In the Negev there are also kibbutzim with the names of the two other "friends": nearby Tzofar and Elifaz in the southern Arava. Bildad also served as a transit point for new settlement in the Arabah valley.
The first settlement phase of Tzukim was supposed to begin in 2003, with fifty families.[2] The first settlers were people in their 40s from central Israel. Tzukim's economy is mainly based on tourism, education and art.[3] 200 guest houses are planned here as well as restaurants and spas. By 2008, twelve rooms had been built and with 70 under construction.[4] Today there 3 active kindergartens and also a youth movement in the settlement.
References
- "Population in the Localities 2019" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- Mapa's concise gazetteer of Israel (in Hebrew). Yuval El'azari (ed.). Tel-Aviv: Mapa Publishing. 2005. p. 457. ISBN 965-7184-34-7.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Mamos, Ahuva (2007-04-03). "Tzukim: (not) A Little House in the Prairie". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2009-03-11.
- "Special Visits to Zuqim and Shomriya". The Jerusalem Post. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2009-03-11.