Beersheba metropolitan area  The Metropolitan area of Beersheba () is a metropolitan area including areas from both the Beersheba and the Southern Districts of Israel. The area is closely linked to the city of Beersheba through social, economic, and cultural ties. The metropolitan area of Beersheba is located in the Negev desert. The Beersheba metropolitan area is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country, with an estimated population of over 377,100. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics divides the Beersheba metropolitan area into two areas:  Notes   Rail service connects the Beersheba metropolitan area with Ashkelon, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Bus service connects to Eilat, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. The major highways in the Beersheba metropolitan area include Area are: