Zikim

Zikim (Hebrew: זִיקִים) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 385.

History

The kibbutz was established in 1949 by a group of young Romanian Jews who belonged to Hashomer Hatzair before their arrival in Palestine in 1947. At that time, Jewish settlement in the Negev was very sparse, and each new location was considered to be a "point of light" (zik) in the wilderness. Michael Har-Segor, later an Israeli historian, came up with the name while imprisoned in Romania for his activity in Hashomer Hatzair. He says he translated a quote from Pushkin into Hebrew: "From sparks shall come a flame."

Zikim is built on land belonging to the depopulated Palestinian village of Hiribya. Zikim has attracted members of Hashomer Hatzair from around the world, most recently from South America. The actor Bob Hoskins worked as a volunteer in Zikim in 1967.

In 2006 a Kassam rocket fired from northern Gaza hit a mattress factory in Kibbutz Zikim. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.In July 2014, five armed Palestinians attempted to cross into Israel via the beach at Kibbutz Zikim. They were killed by IDF gunfire.