Environmental and Social Criticism
Israeli and American environmental groups have expressed concern that creation of isolated suburban communities in the Negev will lead to water and energy intensive suburban sprawl and strain Bedouin-Jewish relations. They argue that the planned developments will require a large public investment per capita that benefits a small number of comparatively well-off immigrants in a region with high poverty rates. Daniel Orenstein claims the project is not the answer to overdevelopment in the north. Blueprint Negev has been accused of discriminating against Bedouins and endangering their way of life.
Read more about this topic: Blueprint Negev
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