Sdot Negev Regional Council Sdot Negev Regional Council Sdot Negev Regional Council (, "Mo'atza Azorit Sdot Negev", "lit." Negev Fields Regional Council), formerly Azata Regional Council (, "Mo'atza Azorit Azata") is a regional council in the northwestern Negev desert in the Southern District of Israel. The Sdot Negev region council was established in 1951 by the Religious Zionist HaPoel HaMizrahi settlement movement. The council encompasses 16 communities: two kibbutzim, 12 moshavim and two community settlements. Despite frequent rocket attacks from the nearby Gaza Strip, the population of the Sdot Negev region has increased 55 percent in 2006–2012. Residents have cited the educational system, atmosphere
Incense Route – Desert Cities in the Negev on the river banks and hill slopes in Avdat and central Negev where a very large number of water collection cairns built in stone are present. Twenty-two milestones have been found in the Nafha Highlands and the Ramon Makhtesh areas between the Makhmal Fort and the Saharonim Fort. They are cylindrical in shape with square bases made of stone. Field stones are also seen set in different patterns at road crossings, or as religious sites. One stretch of such arranged stones is in length. Road sections are also discerned in several stretches of the route. Incense Route – Desert Cities