Editing Negev (section)

==Economy and housing==

===Development plans===
[[File:Blueprint Negev planned community.jpg|thumb|left|[[Blueprint Negev]] [[mobile homes]], 2009]]

[[Blueprint Negev]] is a [[Jewish National Fund]] project introduced in 2005. The $600 million project is intended to attract 500,000 new Jewish residents to the Negev by improving transport infrastructure, establishing businesses, developing water resources and introducing programmes to protect the environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jnf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=negevPoints |title= Jewish National Fund: The Negev - 12 Points|website=www.jnf.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813072730/http://www.jnf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=negevPoints |archive-date=August 13, 2007}}</ref> A planned artificial desert river, swimming pools and golf courses raised concerns among environmentalists.<ref>{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Orenstein |url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/841397.html |title=When an ecological community is not |date=March 25, 2007 |publisher=haaretz.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925063932/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/841397.html |archive-date=September 25, 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://bustan.org/2007/01/jnf_website_blueprint_negev_de.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154323/http://bustan.org/2007/01/jnf_website_blueprint_negev_de.html|date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> Critics oppose those plans, calling instead for an inclusive plan for the green vitalisation of existing population centres, investment in Bedouin villages, a clean-up of toxic industries and development of job options for the unemployed.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Daniel|last1=Orenstein|first2=Steven|last2=Hamburg|url=http://www.watsoninstitute.org/news_detail.cfm?id=383 |title=The JNF's Assault on the Negev |work=The Jerusalem Report |date=November 28, 2005 |publisher=watsoninstitute.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019053259/http://www.watsoninstitute.org/news_detail.cfm?id=383 |archive-date=October 19, 2007 |df=mdy-all |access-date=August 7, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neohasid.org/negev/resolution |title=Ohalah resolution |publisher=neohasid.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702161133/http://www.neohasid.org/negev/resolution/ |archive-date=2013-07-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://neohasid.org/negev/save_the_negev/ |title=Neohasid's Save the Negev Campaign |publisher=neohasid.org |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215093430/http://neohasid.org/negev/save_the_negev/ |archive-date=2013-12-15 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|last=Manski|first=Rebecca|title=Blueprint Negev|url=http://mondoweiss.net/2010/11/blueprint-negev.html|publisher=MERIP/Mondoweiss|date=9 November 2010|access-date=23 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815092444/http://mondoweiss.net/2010/11/blueprint-negev.html|archive-date=15 August 2014}}</ref>

A major [[Israel Defense Forces]] training base is being constructed in the Negev to accommodate 10,000 army personnel and 2,500 civilian staff. Three more bases will be built by 2020 as part of a plan to vacate land and buildings in Tel Aviv and central Israel, and bring jobs and investment to the south.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/77940556-c6ac-11e2-a861-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2nWgo9lKu|title=Israel looks to fulfil desert dream with Negev military base |author=John Reed |date=May 27, 2013 |website=Financial Times|access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820051934/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/77940556-c6ac-11e2-a861-00144feab7de.html#ixzz2nWgo9lKu|archive-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>

=== Solar power ===
{{Main|Solar power in Israel}}
[[File:Solar troughs in the Negev desert of Israel.jpg|thumb|Solar troughs in the Negev]]

The Negev Desert and the surrounding area, including the [[Arava Valley]], are the sunniest parts of Israel and little of this land is [[Arable land|arable]], which is why it has become the centre of the Israeli solar industry.<ref name=Kib>{{cite news |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205420713036&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |title=Head of Kibbutz Movement: We will not be discriminated against by the government |author=Ehud Zion Waldoks |newspaper=[[Jerusalem Post]] |date=March 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713124653/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205420713036&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |df=mdy-all |access-date=February 4, 2011 }}</ref> [[David Faiman]], an expert on solar energy, is of the opinion that Israel's future energy requirements could be met by building solar energy plants in the Negev. As director of [[Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center]], he operates one of the largest solar dishes in the world.<ref name=Register>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/25/faiman_negev_solar_plan/ |title=Giant solar plants in Negev could power Israel's future |first=John |last=Lettice |website=The Register |date=January 25, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929011836/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/25/faiman_negev_solar_plan/ |archive-date=September 29, 2013 }}</ref>  Technically, however, the Arava is a separate desert with its own unique climate and ecology.

A 250&nbsp;MW solar park in [[Ashalim]], an area in the northern Negev, the [[Ashalim Power Station]], produces 121 Megawatts of power, using solar mirrors and thermal water heating. It is currently the largest in Israel.

The Rotem Industrial Complex outside of [[Dimona, Israel]], has dozens of solar mirrors that focus the sun's rays on a tower that in turn heats a water boiler to create steam, turning a turbine to create electricity.  Luz II, Ltd., plans to use the solar array to test new technology for the three new solar plants to be built in California, USA for [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]].<ref name=Dimona>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25124614 |title=Calif. solar power test begins — in Israeli desert |agency=Associated Press |date=June 12, 2008 |access-date=December 23, 2008 }}</ref><ref name=CA>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1110252820080611 |title=Israel site for California solar power test |first= Ari |last=Rabinovitch|work= Reuters |date= June 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Washington |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-05/2008-05-08-voa17.cfm |title=Building Small Prototype Homes, an Israeli Solar Experiment {{pipe}} News {{pipe}} English |publisher=Voice of America |date=2008-05-08 |access-date=2011-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826073530/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-05/2008-05-08-voa17.cfm |archive-date=2009-08-26 }}</ref>

===Wineries===
[[File:Yatirwine.JPG|thumb|upright=0.8|left|Yatir Forest 2005, produced by [[Yatir Winery]] in the Negev]]

Vines have been planted in the Negev since ancient times. In modern times, vineyards have been established in the northern Negev hills using innovative computerised irrigation methods. [[Carmel Winery]] was the first of the major wineries to plant vineyards in the Negev and operates a boutique winery at Ramat [[Arad, Israel|Arad]]. Tishbi has vineyards at [[Sde Boker]] and Barkan grows its grapes in [[Mitzpe Ramon]].<ref>[http://gemsinisrael.com/e_article000033151.htm Israel's Wine Regions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305190526/http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000033151.htm |date=2012-03-05 }}</ref> [[Yatir Winery]] is a winery in [[Tel Arad]]. Its vineyards are on a hill 900 metres above sea level on the outskirts of [[Yatir Forest]].<ref name=rogov2009>{{cite book |title=Rogov's Guide to Israeli Wine |last=Rogov |first=Daniel |year=2009 |publisher=Toby Press |location=London |isbn=978-1613290194|page=467 }}</ref> Carmey Avdat is Israel's first solar-powered winery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/07/sunday-israel-solar-power-wine/|title=Sunday Energy and Carmey Avdat Winery Helping Produce Israel's First Solar Powered Wine|website=greenprophet.com|date=8 July 2009 |access-date=8 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325064217/https://www.greenprophet.com/2009/07/sunday-israel-solar-power-wine/|archive-date=25 March 2017}}</ref>