Blueprint Negev

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"Blueprint Negev" is a $600 million project of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) whose stated aims are developing the Negev region of Israel by increasing its population by 250,000 Jewish immigrants in the next five years, improving transportation infrastructure, adding businesses and employment opportunities, preserving water resources and protecting its environment.[1] The plan was announced in 2005 by JNF President, Ronald S. Lauder.

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[edit] Background

According to the JNF, 92% of Israel's population resides on 40% of Israel's land, while only 8% of its population lives in the Negev, which represents 60% of Israel's landmass. Furthermore, 85% of the Negev is off-limits for civilian purposes, utilized by the military for training. This creates overcrowding, and a strain on resources, which the Blueprint Negev claims could be resolved by population redistribution.

Lauder argues that developing the Negev by bringing in new settlers to the region could lead to an influx of investment and thereby improve living standards in the Negev,[2] a region struggling with a high disparity between rich and poor residents.[3] Both Jews and Arabs in the region suffer comparatively high rates of poverty.

However, the poverty experienced by the Arab population is particularly extreme. There are an estimated 170,000 Bedouin in the Negev, who have poor access to educational and medical facilitiies and suffer unemployment hovering at 90% (i.e. the highest in Israel). In addition to extreme conditions of unemployment and accompanying social breakdown, Bedouin citizens are in disproportionate need of services; half of the 160,000 Bedouin citizens in Israel are denied access to electricity, water, or municipal waste disposal services by the Israeli government because they live in unrecognized villages.[4]

The plan is closely related to local Israeli development plans for the Negev which have emerged since 2002, such as the Sharon Negev Development Plan (sidelined due to budget crises in 2003) and Negev 2015, currently in the works. Development plans are two-tiered, involving removal of unrecognized villages on the one hand, and incorporation and construction of new Jewish and Bedouin towns on the other.

[edit] Planned projects

Population redistribution: The plan aims to bring 250,000 new people to the Negev over ten years. Toward that goal, the project has compiled a database, currently containing some 10,000 names, of Israeli citizens interested in relocating to the Negev.

Beer Sheva redevelopment: The plan aims to more than double the population of Be’er Sheva, the Negev’s largest city, to 500,000 by 2010. One of the main projects undertaken there is the Be’er Sheva River Walk – a plan to convert the current muddy trickle of water in the Beer Sheva stream into a 900-acre park inspired by San Antonio’s River Walk.[5] The plan, based on bringing economic opportunity to the city, includes green spaces, an amphitheater for events, a lake from recylced waste water for boating, and promenades for strolling. JNF was involved in the cleanup of the riverbed, which was strewn with garbage and sewage.

New suburban communities: The plan envisions the creation of several new suburban communities, which will allow their residents to be “21st century pioneers”. The beginnings of seven such new communities have already been established: Sansana, Harouv, Shomria, Givot Bar, Be’er Milka, Kmehin and Merhav Am. In addition, JNF was instrumental in helping Gaza evacuees find new homes and stay together as communities.

JNF has many projects supporting the existing Jewish towns in the Negev. One such project is Aleh Negev, a residential village near Ofaqim. The Aleh Negev project will be a cost-effective home to 200-500 adults with severe mental and other disabilities, and will provide an additional 12,000 disabled children and young adults with outpatient care. According to the JNF, the project will bring hundreds of new jobs to the area, which currently suffers a 15% unemployment rate.

A work in progress:

In 2005, Lauder introduced plans to attract 500,000 immigrants by 2010.[6]A year later, the JNF's website changed; the JNF had revised the goal to 250,000 by 2010. In 2008 the JNF website stated they would introduce 250,000 residents "in the next five years," with no specified starting date.

[edit] Environmental and Social Critiques

For more details on this topic, see Criticism of Blueprint Negev.

Israeli and American environmental groups are concerned that the creation of isolated suburban communities in the Negev will lead to water and energy intensive suburban sprawl and strain Bedouin-Jewish relations.[7][8] [9][10] There has been critique from these organizations over water and and energy consumption, Bedouin displacement, and concerns that the project constitutes overbuilding,will lead to overpopulation, and relies on an enequal allocation of resources. The JNF has responded with ongoing talks between them and a small group of Bedouin leaders from the Abu Basma Regional Council.

[edit] References

  1. ^ THE 12 POINTS OF BLUEPRINT NEGEV
  2. ^ A Message from Ronald S. Lauder
  3. ^ Negev Development Plans
  4. ^ Boker on Bedouin villages
  5. ^ Jewish National Fund plants an emissary in Bay Area
  6. ^ Brous on the Blueprint: An Open Letter to the JNF
  7. ^ Orenstein, Daniel. "Population Growth and Environmental Impact: Ideology and Academic Discourse in Israel;" Population and Environment Volume 26, Number 1 / September, 2004
  8. ^ A Desert Mirage: The Rising Role of US Money in Negev Development
  9. ^ Ohalah resolution
  10. ^ Neohasid's Save the Negev Campaign

[edit] External links