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Moshav on the southern Coastal Plain of Israel.
In 1887, a group of First Aliyah newcomers from Bessarabia founded
a moshava, which they named Quastina, after the neighboring Arab
village.
Although supported by Baron
Edmond de Rothschild, the moshava did not prosper due to lack
of water, distance from other Jewish centers, attacks by neighboring
Arab villagers and strained relations between the settlers and
the Baron's administration. The village was almost abandoned,
but in 1896, the association of Hibbat Zion in Odessa purchased
the land and new settlers came. Quastina became Be'er Toviyyah
- an adaptation of the site's Arabic name, "Bir Ta'abya."
The moshava was practically destroyed during the 1929 Arab Riots
and had to be abandoned. In 1930, it was founded anew as moshav.
After water was discovered, Be'er Toviyyah became one of the most
prosperous moshavim in the country.
After 1948, the moshav became the center of a densely settled
farming area.
In the early 1990's, the population of Be'er Toviyyah numbered
some 650. The moshav's economy is mainly based on citrus and intensive
farming.
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