Omer, Israel

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.

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.

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. The transaction provoked fierce opposition from local Jewish residents, who wanted to preserve Omer as a Jewish-only settlement at any price.

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. 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.

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.

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

References

1. HaReuveni, Immanuel. (1999). "Lexicon of the Land of Israel". Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books.
2. [https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/byjpvxmcex Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער"] (Hebrew)
3. (2025-09-01). "משפחתו של איסמעיל הנייה עוברת ליישוב היוקרתי? הרוכש החדש מגיב לראשונה - וואלה חדשות".
4. (2025-09-01). "תושבים בעומר הונחו לא לדבר על מכירת הבית למשפחת הנייה: "במועצה פועלים לביטולה" - וואלה שבע דרום".
5. פטרסבורג, עופר. (2025-09-01). ""אם יתברר שהוא קרוב למשפחת הנייה מעזה, אבטל את העסקה"".
6. [https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/byjpvxmcex Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער"] (Hebrew)
7. עזרא, גיא. (2025-08-31). "הלם ביישוב היוקרתי: בני משפחתו של איסמעאיל הנייה רכשו בית".
8. (2025-09-01). "סערה בעומר: בית נמכר לקרובי הנייה? המתווכים תחת לחץ - בחדרי חרדים".
9. [https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/byjpvxmcex Ynet News – "עלא הנייה רכש בית בעומר - והיישוב סוער"] (Hebrew)
10. [https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/mediarelease/doclib/2020/403/24_20_403t1.pdf Media release]cbs.gov.il {{Webarchive. link. (May 2, 2022)