Unknown Territory- was the Negev's nickname until the mid 1940's.
The three settlements- Gevulot, Revivim and Bet Eshel- established in winter 1943, were meant to be bases for research and integration in the area. Such was the decision of the settlements' leadership in coordination with the Haganah, which had published in the previous year the Rochav Lev (Big Heart) Plan for strengthening and thickening the borders of Jewish security settlements in the land of Israel.