Havat Shikmim
Havat Shikmim (Hebrew: חוות שקמים, lit."Sycamore Ranch") is a sheep ranch in Israel that belongs to the family of former Prime Minister of Israel Ariel Sharon. It is located in the northern Negev, near Sderot.
Ariel Sharon purchased the ranch in 1972 with the help of a loan from Meshulam Riklis.[1] The ownership of the ranch was turned over to Sharon's sons Omri and Gilad, to avoid conflict of interest when Sharon became Agriculture Minister of Israel and Industry, Trade and Labour Minister of Israel.
The ranch covers 3,823 dunams (4 km²).
In 2007, the farm was hit by rocket fire from Gaza. One rocket exploded near a sheep barn.[2]
In June 2010, the Israel Land Administration (ILA) renewed the ranch's lease for an additional 49 years at NIS142 000/year. The ranch had been in limbo since 2003, when the ILA decided to verify if the ranch was using an extra land not in its ownership.[1]
Ariel Sharon's second wife, Lily, is buried in Havat Shikmim.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Moshe Lichtman (23 June 2010). "המינהל חידש את חוזה החכירה של משפחת שרון בחוות שקמים". Globes. http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?QUID=1055,U1277331522455&did=1000569180. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ Kassam Rocket Hits Sharon’s Negev Farm
Coordinates: 31°30′42.44″N 34°38′1.06″E / 31.5117889°N 34.6336278°E
