Nitzan

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Nitzan (Hebrew ניצן, literally flower bud) is a religiously observant town located among the Nitzanim sand dunes north of Ashkelon, Israel.It is also a name that can be given to both girls and boys. Nitzan was founded in 1949, and as of 1995, it had a population of 105. By 2006 the population increased to 2,500, the fast growth rate being due to people who were evacuated during the disengagement moving into the town.

[edit] Caravilla neighbourhood

The quiet town entered the limelight when it was selected to temporarily house one large group of families evacuated from Gush Katif as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan. 500 temporary caravillas were constructed on the eastern end of Nitzan, and 250 more were ordered by the Israeli Government. According to government plans, a school and sports area will eventually be constructed.

Several environmental organisations objected to the new construction, which increased Nitsan's area by four-and-a-half times, fearing damage to the fragile sand dune ecosystem. The neighbourhood has also been the target of criticism from the settlers, as well as Israeli human-rights groups,^[1][2] citing a lack of adequate housing and facilities. They argue that governmental negligence resulted in a housing shortage which forced large families to separate into multiple caravillas, and that basic infrastructure like a youth area, nursery, and synagogue were absent.

[edit] References

1. ^ First families move to Nitzan homes; others opt for tents Haaretz, 1 August 2005
2. ^ Nature Society asks Mazuz to halt Nitzan construction Haaretz, 16 May 2005