Kibbutz Be’eri makes first major investment since October 7 – in renewable energy

The kibbutz, hit hard by the Hamas invasion, will invest NIS 20 million, joining Kibbutz Hatzerim and the firm Giza Singer Even in a NIS 115 million purchase of Arava Power shares

By Sue Surkes

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29 October 2025, 12:51 pm

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Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter

Illustrative: An aerial view of the solar field at Kibbutz Ketura, which provides one-third of the daytime electricity for the city of Eilat. (Courtesy)

The Gaza border kibbutz of Be’eri, which say one-tenth of its residents murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7 two years ago, is set to make its biggest investment since that dark day, in renewable energy.

It has joined Kibbutz Hatzerim, where Be’eri’s evacuated residents are still living, and an infrastructure fund at the financial advisory and investment banking firm Giza Singer Even, to buy 25 percent of Arava Power for NIS 115 million (roughly $35 million).

In a deal due to be signed Sunday, the infrastructure fund will contribute NIS 70 million ($21.5 million), while Be’eri and Hatzerim will each invest NIS 20 million ($6.15 million).

Be’eri’s funds will come from its own businesses, led by its successful printing press.

According to the Calcalist website, Giza Singer Even’s fund will also buy 5% of Arava Power’s shares from Phoenix Insurance for NIS 25 million. ($7.7 million)

Phoenix is expected to sell over half of its roughly 40% ownership of Arava Power before the solar company goes public. Israeli law prohibits institutional investors from holding more than 20% of a public company.

Arava Power, cofounded in 2007 by Ed Hofland, David Rosenblatt, and Yossi Abramovich, built Israel’s first utility-scale photovoltaic solar energy plant at Kibbutz Ketura, in southern Israel.

Since then, according to the company’s website, it has built a multi-gigawatt development portfolio in Israel and the US.

Arava Power is owned by Kibbutz Ketura and private investors (51.5%), Phoenix (42%), KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund (5.5%), and the Kibbutz Ketura-based Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (1%).