Irusim Neighborhood

The story

At the end of 2015 a new neighborhood was built in the north of Yeruham, and its name is Irusim, after the Yeruham iris that grows in the area. The Yeruham iris is a species of geophyte from the group of the royal irises, endemic to Israel and to Jordan; its flowers are of a dark purple color tending to black, their diameter about ten centimeters, and the flowering is in the months of March and April. In the past it was considered part of the species of the Negev iris and was separated from it into a distinct species on the basis of morphological features. In the area where it grows a special nature reserve was established, north of Yeruham, next to an IDF base; in 2012 an agreement was signed between the IDF and the Nature and Parks Authority under which the soldiers of the nearby "Shu'alei HaNegev" base would guard the reserve. The plant is protected by law.

• Development towns
• Desert
• Yeruham