The Negev Desert represents 60% of Israel’s landmass but is home to just 8% of the country’s population. And in those lopsided numbers, we see an unprecedented opportunity for growth.
Jewish National Fund's major initiative to revitalize Southern Israel is Blueprint Negev. An interdisciplinary, internationally recognized campaign, Blueprint Negev aims to improve quality of life for all residents of the region and encourage a population shift away from crowded, expensive central Israel. Today, Be’er Sheva and the surrounding communities are blooming in a once barren desert.
JNF’s Blueprint Negev calls for the population of the south to double in size. These cities are setting the pace to make that dream a reality.
Our goal is to bring 500,000 new residents to the Negev. But before that happens, anyone looking to settle amid that arid landscape must stare down its challenges: A scarce water supply and the task of building sewage, irrigation and energy systems; a lack of infrastructure for housing; a lack of amenities to support a good quality of life; and a need for more job opportunities. Many areas in which JNF has invested are proving that our master plan is on the fast track to success. Here’s how it’s happening.
