Omer, Israel
Omer
עומר | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | ʕomr |
 | |
  Omer Location within Northern Negev region of Israel  Omer Location within Israel | |
| Coordinates: 31°15′51″N 34°50′49″E / 31.26417°N 34.84694°E | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Southern |
| Sub-district | Beersheba |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Pini Badash |
| Area | |
• Total | 20.1 km2 (7.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2024)[1] | |
• Total | 8,078 |
| • Density | 402/km2 (1,040/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | Sheaf |
| Website | www.omer.muni.il |
Omer (Hebrew: עומר, lit. 'Sheaf') is an affluent town in the Southern District of Israel, bordering Beersheba. It is located on Highway 60, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. In 2024 it had a population of 8,078.[1]
History
Omer, originally known as Hevrona, was founded as a kibbutz in 1949. The early residents were demobilized Palmach soldiers. In 1951, it became a cooperative village known as Eilata. In 1953, it was re-established as a communal moshav by immigrants from Hungary and Romania and renamed Omer. The name is based on the offering of the first sheafs in Leviticus 23:10.[2]
In 1957, residents of the ma'abarot in the vicinity moved to Omer. In 1962, it was renamed Tomer and became a neighborhood of Beersheba. Since 1974, it has been an independent town and suburb of Beersheba.[2]
Pini Badash has served as mayor since 1990. Omer's jurisdiction is 20,126 dunams (~20.1 km²).
Controversy over property purchase by Arabs (2025)
In 2025, a controversy erupted following the purchase of a house in Omer by ʿAlāʾ Haniyeh, a Palestinian businessperson from the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva and the CEO of a plastics factory in Dimona over concerns of family relations with previous Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.[3] The transaction provoked fierce opposition from local Jewish residents, who wanted to preserve Omer as a Jewish-only settlement at any price.[4][5][6]
In residents’ WhatsApp groups and on social media, residents decried the deal as unacceptable after the events of 7 October 2023, reflecting openly hostile and racist attitudes, with statements opposing "transactions between Jews and Arabs" and expressing fears about changes to the "Jewish character" of the settlement.[7][8] The head of the Omer local council, Erez Badash reiterated the council’s policy of encouraging Jewish and military families to settle in the town.[9][10]
Economy
Omer is known for its high socio-economic ranking. It is one of four municipalities to score 10/10, along with Kfar Shmaryahu, Lehavim and Savyon.[11]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1,300 | — |
| 1983 | 4,400 | +238.5% |
| 1995 | 5,700 | +29.5% |
| 2008 | 6,400 | +12.3% |
| 2022 | 8,250 | +28.9% |
| 2024 | 8,077 | −2.1% |
Voting Patterns
In the 2022 election, 60 percent of voters in Omer voted for the parties of the center-left coalition led by Yair Lapid, while 36 percent voted for the parties of the right-wing coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu and 1 percent voted for the Arab parties.[14]
Notable residents
- Eviatar Banai (b. 1973), musician
- Orna Banai (b. 1966), actress and comedian
- Guy Barnea (b. 1987), Olympic swimmer
- Roni Dalumi (b. 1991), singer
- Mickey Edelstein (b. 1966), general
- Amir Ganiel (1963–2018), swimmer
- Imri Ganiel (b. 1992), Olympic swimmer
- Ziv Kalontarov (b. 1997), Olympic swimmer
- Shaul Ladany (b. 1936), world-record-holding Olympic racewalker, Bergen-Belsen survivor, Munich Massacre survivor, and Professor of Industrial Engineering
References
- 1 2 "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- 1 2 HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 769. ISBN 965-448-413-7.
- ↑ Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער" (Hebrew)
- ↑ "משפחתו של איסמעיל הנייה עוברת ליישוב היוקרתי? הרוכש החדש מגיב לראשונה - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "תושבים בעומר הונחו לא לדבר על מכירת הבית למשפחת הנייה: "במועצה פועלים לביטולה" - וואלה שבע דרום". וואלה (in Hebrew). September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ פטרסבורג, עופר (September 1, 2025). ""אם יתברר שהוא קרוב למשפחת הנייה מעזה, אבטל את העסקה"". mako (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער" (Hebrew)
- ↑ עזרא, גיא (August 31, 2025). "הלם ביישוב היוקרתי: בני משפחתו של איסמעאיל הנייה רכשו בית". חדשות סרוגים (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ "סערה בעומר: בית נמכר לקרובי הנייה? המתווכים תחת לחץ - בחדרי חרדים". www.bhol.co.il (in Hebrew). September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
- ↑ Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער" (Hebrew)
- ↑ Media releasecbs.gov.il Archived May 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Regional Statistics". www.cbs.gov.il. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
- ↑ "Additional files - census 2008". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "The true results of the elections for the 25th Knesset". Israel: Central Elections Committee. November 1, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
