Negev additives. Vegetation in the Negev is sparse, but certain trees and plants thrive there, among them "Acacia", "Pistacia", "Retama", "Urginea maritima" and "Thymelaea". A small population of Arabian leopards, an endangered animal in the Arabian peninsula, survives in the southern Negev. The Negev Tortoise ("Testudo werneri") is a critically endangered species that currently lives only in the sands of the western and central Negev Desert. The Negev shrew ("Crocidura ramona") is a species of mammal of the family Soricidae found only in Israel. "Hyphaene thebaica" or doum palm can be found in the Southern Negev. Evrona is the most northerly
Negev Brigade Negev, he told Ben-Gurion that he would not be able to command the brigade, citing deteriorating health, and praised Sarig. It was commanded by Nahum "Sergei" Sarig (which is why it was also called "Sergei Brigade") and consisted of four Palmach battalions. The Negev Brigade participated in many operations in the Negev Desert, including Operation Yoav in the latter part of the war. Sarig decided to divide the Negev into two sectors, divided by the Beersheba–Gaza road (later Highway 25). Yigal Allon then named Haim Bar-Lev as the commander of the southern sector—the 8th Battalion. The Palmach memorial website records