Regional-based Sustainable Planning in the Western Negev: The Key to Integrating Environmental, Climatic, Social, and Economic Elements

  • Galia Limor-Sagiv Negev School of Architecture, Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer Sheva, Israel
  • Adi Wolfson Green Processes Center, Shamoon College of Engineering, Beer Sheva, Israel
  • Ofira Ayalon Haifa University and Samuel Neaman Institute, The Technion, Haifa, Israel
Keywords: Western Negev, Regionality, Sustainability, Rehabilitation, Disaster response

Abstract

In the past year, since the events of 7 October 2023, residents of the Western Negev have faced complex challenges of rehabilitation. Subsequently, the violence and ongoing war have led to serious injury to body and soul, extensive damage to property – mainly public infrastructure and private homes – as well as massive damage to, and pollution of, the surrounding area. However, the challenges not only included physical and mental damage, but also the dismantling of social textures causing growing concerns about the future among local communities, which are still facing the moral and economic consequences of these events. Looking back after a year, it is clear that rehabilitation efforts have largely failed due to lack of coordination between the various entities, lack of clarity about goals and processes, and particularly a lack of comprehensive regional vision. Furthermore, climate and environmental considerations have hardly been incorporated into the planning of the renewable area. We will argue that optimal rehabilitation of the affected area must be undertaken, and a regional approach based on the principles of sustainable development adopted. We propose that a broad regional perspective should be adopted when considering the reestablishment of settlements and rebuilding infrastructures, and communities; that rehabilitated communities should be fully involved in the decision-making and implementation processes; and that maximum use should be made of the natural, social, and economic resources in the region. In addition, we will outline the key features that make up the geographic, climatic, social, and economic characteristics of the Western Negev, so that they can be harnessed together – as they should be – to promote personal, regional, and national resilience and prosperity for the entire region.

References

Abbasi, M., Abbasi, E., Li, L., Aguilera, R., Lu, D., and Wang, F. (2023) Review on the microgrid concept, structures, components, communication systems, and control methods. Energies, 16(1):484-490.

Alrehaili, N.R., Almutairi, Y.N., Alghamdi, H.M., and Almuthaybiri, M.S. (2022) A structural review on disaster management models and their contributions. International Journal of Disaster Management, 5(2):93-108.

Ayalon, O., Kaplan-Mintz, K., Eshet, T., Nathan, O., Khashan, A., Shina, Z., Fichtman, E., and Shapira, N. (2021) Ancillary benefit assessment of JNF forests: Physical and psychological well-being, cultural services, and economic aspects. Haifa: Samuel Neaman Institute. (In Hebrew) https://www.neaman.org.il/ancillary-benefit-assessment-of-jnf-forests/

Börzel, T., and Risse, T. (2016) Theorizing regionalism. Börzel, T., and Risse, T. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Regionalism. Oxford Academic Press, 41-63.

Chaitin, J., Steinberg, S., Avlagon, E. and Steinberg, S., (2022). Otef Aza, the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian Conflict, and the War Relations with the Hamas Regime in the Gaza Strip. In Chaitin, J., Steinberg, S., Avlagon, E. and Steinberg, S. (Eds.) Routine Emergency: The Meaning of Life for Israelis Living along the Gaza Border. Cham: Springer International Publishing. (pp. 3-33).

Coles, E., and Buckle, P. (2004) Developing community resilience as a foundation for effective disaster recovery. The Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 19(4):6-15.

Efrat, E., 2005. Geography and Politics in Israel since 1967. Routledge.

Elsner, M., Atkinson, G., and Zahidi, S., (2025) Global Risk Report. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/

Eshkol Regional Council (2022) Action plan to evaluate climate change and sustainable energy. (In Hebrew) https://eshkol.info/uploads/n/1679902199.9329.pdf

Ezekiel, G., Fecht, G., Gilboa, A., and Ezekiel, A. (2018) Strategic plan – the regional councils of the “Gaza envelope”. (Submitted by TARA to the Ministry of Development of the Negev and Galilee periphery (Hof Ashkelon Regional Council, Sdot Negev Regional Council, Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council and Eshkol Regional Council.) (In Hebrew) https://www.sng.org.il/uploads/n/1554971793.7097.pdf

Fernandez, G., and Ahmed, I. (2019) “Build back better” approach to disaster recovery: Research trends since 2006. Progress in Disaster Science, 1:100003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2019.100003

Kaplan, M., Zanzori, A., and Lautner, L.T. (2024) Protection of the open spaces as a strategy to deal with the climate crisis. Ecology and Environment, 15(3):80-3. (In Hebrew) https://magazine.isees.org.il/?p=59145

Keating, M. (2016) Regionalism and regionalization. In Keating, M. (Ed.) The Princeton Encyclopedia of Self-Determination. Princeton University.

Kim, K., and Olshansky, R.B. (2014) The theory and practice of building back better. Journal of the American Planning Association, 80(4):289-92.

Lederman, G., and Verbinovitz, P. (2014) “One health” – Medicine, the health of humans and animals and the preservation of the environment. Ecology and Environment, (4) 5:310-18. (In Hebrew).

Lloyd-Jones, T. (2006) Mind the Gap! Post-disaster Reconstruction and the Transition from Humanitarian Relief. London: Max Locke Centre, University of Westminster.

Mannakkara, S., Wilkinson, S., and Potangaroa, R. (2018) Resilient Post Disaster Recovery through Building Back Better. Routledge.

Ministry of Environmental Protection. (2023) “Darom Yarok” – The environmental program of the Ministry of Environmental Protection for the rehabilitation and development of the Tkuma region is underway. (In Hebrew) https://www.gov.il/he/pages/green-south

Neeraj, S., Mannakkara, S., and Wilkinson, S. (2021) Evaluating socio-economic recovery as part of building back better in Kaikoura, New Zealand. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 52:101930.

Orumwense, E.F., and Abo-Al-Ez, K. (2023) Internet of Things for smart energy systems: A review on its applications, challenges and future trends. AIMS Electronics and Electrical Engineering, 7(1):50-74.

Prime Minister’s Office. (2023) Plan to strengthen civil resilience in Sderot and settlements “surrounding the Gaza Strip” during 2023-2024 and amending government decisions. (In Hebrew) https://www.gov.il/he/pages/dec462-2023

Prime Minister’s Office (2024a) Tkuma administrative activity - for the rehabilitation and development of the Tkuma region and its population. (In Hebrew) https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:363da92d-6a59-4447-98c1-f10c2c458999

Prime Minister’s Office (2024b) Appendix – status of projects. (In Hebrew) https://govextra.gov.il/media/ewiirsjx/annex-to-the-report.pdf

Rowe, G., and Frewer, L.J. (2000) Public participation methods: A framework for evaluation. Science, Technology, and Human Values, 25(1):3-29

Savitch, H.V., and Vogel, R.K. (2000) Introduction: Paths to new regionalism. State and Local Government Review, 32(3):158-68.

Söderbaum, F. (2016) Rethinking Regionalism. London: Palgrave.

Spatial Plan for the Western Negev (n.d.) Israel: Institute for Structural Reforms. https://www.ref-inst.org/articles-category/spatial-plan-for-the-western-negev(In Hebrew)

Stein, J.Y., Levin, Y., Gelkopf, M., Tangir, G. and Solomon, Z., 2018. Traumatization or habituation? A four-wave investigation of exposure to continuous traumatic stress in Israel. International Journal of Stress Management, 25(S1), p.137.

Streimikiene, D., Svagzdiene, B., Jasinskas, E., and Simanavicius, A. (2021) Sustainable tourism development and competitiveness: The systematic literature review. Sustainable Development, 29(1):259-71.

Tal, Z. (2021) ‘New regionality’ in the cluster of western Negev authorities? Urbanology. https://urbanologia.tau.ac.il/new-regionalism-in-the-western-negev-region/ (In Hebrew).

TARA (2018) Strategic plan – regional councils of the Gaza envelope. https://www.sng.org.il/uploads/n/1554971793.7097.pdf

UNDRR. (2016) Report of the open-ended intergovernmental Expert 2 Working Group on indicators and terminology relating to disaster risk reduction. https://www.undrr.org/publication/report-open-ended-intergovernmental-expert-working-group-indicators-and-terminology

Webler, T., Tuler, S., and Krueger, R.O.B. (2001) What is a good public participation process? Five perspectives from the public. Environmental Management, 27:435-50.

Western Negev Cluster and Reut Institute (2018) A social-economic leap in the western Negev. (In Hebrew) https://6f6fa7e8-a70d-4773-bdcc-9a45b25772e5.filesusr.com/ugd/80ba48_62a777d9347640378d006af4b7151284.pdf

Wolfson, A. (2016) Toward Sustainability: The Lessons of the Past and Responsibility to the Future. Pardes: Haifa. (In Hebrew)

Yavelberg, Y., Rabivo, G., Wellner, G., Van Essen, Y.E., Koren, M., Rom, I., Shchory, N., Maayan, S., and Golan, T. (2024) Home: Milestones in the formulation of the policy of returning residents to their homes when the fighting ends. Israel: Samuel Neaman Institute. (In Hebrew) https://www.neaman.org.il/home-policy-for-the-retun-at-the-end-of-the-war/

Zaychik, D., Ben-Gal, M., and Shmueli, D. (2024) Opportunity for renewal: A review of knowledge on socio-ecological recovery/restoration. Ecology and Environment, 15, 1. (In Hebrew).

Zonnenshain, A., Fortuna, G., Adres, E., and Kenett, R.S. (2020) Regional development in the era of industry 4.0. Dynamic Relationships Management Journal, 9(2):19-36.
Published
2025-05-08