Relations between Development Towns and Kibbutzim: Sderot and Sha’ar Hanegev

To comprehend the underlying currents of the intra-Jewish conflict in Israel, which has been labeled differently throughout the years - First and Second Israel, center-periphery relations, Mizrahi-Ashkenazi relations, and in recent years again as First and Second Israel - one must thoroughly understand the nature of relationships between development towns and their neighboring kibbutzim. This book delves into the relations between Sderot and the kibbutzim of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, beginning in the 1950s, relationships that experienced various ups and downs over the years. These relations commenced with the establishment of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council in 1950 and the establishment of the Gevim-Dorot transit camp in 1951, coinciding with the large-scale immigration of Jews from Islamic countries in the early 1950s and the population dispersal policy, particularly to development towns. This research examines the relationships between development towns and kibbutzim across seven decades through the case study of Sderot-Sha'ar HaNegev, and explores the markedly different social and political perspectives of both sides alongside their mutual antagonism. The significance of this research for understanding Israeli reality gained additional relevance following the October 7, 2023 massacre in Sderot and the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, which are part of the Gaza envelope region.