Ar'arat an-Naqab

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (December 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Ar'arat an-Naqab עַרְעָרָה בַּנֶּגֶב‎ عرعرة
Local council
Hebrew transcription(s)
• Also spelled	Ar'ara BaNegev (official)
Ar'arat an-Naqab Show map of Northern Negev region of Israel Ar'arat an-Naqab Show map of Israel
Coordinates: 31°09′35″N 35°01′25″E / 31.15972°N 35.02361°E / 31.15972; 35.02361
Country	Israel
District	Southern
Founded	1982
Government
• Head of Municipality	David Bonfeld (an acting mayor)[1]
Area
• Total	14,052 dunams (14.052 km2 or 5.426 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]
• Total	20,381
• Density	1,500/km2 (3,800/sq mi)

Ar'arat an-Naqab (Arabic: Arabic: عرعرة النقب) or Ar'ara BaNegev (Hebrew: עַרְעָרָה בַּנֶּגֶב), previously called Aroer,^[3] is a Bedouin town (local council) in the Southern District of Israel. Its name stands for "the juniper tree^[4] in Negev". It is situated not far from the archaeological site of Aroer.^{[citation needed]}

Ar'arat an-Naqab was founded in 1982 as part of a government project to settle Bedouins in permanent settlements. It is one of seven Bedouin townships in the Negev desert with approved plans and developed infrastructure (other six are: Hura, Lakiya, Shaqib al-Salam (Segev Shalom), Kuseife (Kseife), Tel as-Sabi (Tel-Sheva) and the city of Rahat, the largest among them).^[5]