General

The Central Arava is a region in Southern Israel that is know as the most peripheral and remote area in the country. It is part of the Syria-African rift and located half-way between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea and much of the region is below sea level, roughly 130 km from the nearest urban center (Eilat in the South or Beer-Sheva in the North). The community includes some 3,000 residents, in 700 families, sparsely scattered in 7 communities. The Region is adjacent to the Jordan border and has enjoyed peaceful co-existence for many years.

The Central Arava is an arid dessert with sharp climate changes and extreme topographic conditions, with only about 30 mm of rainfall annually. In the summer temperatures regularly surpass 40° Celsius, while humidity is fairly low. Winter temperatures are mostly mild. 

The Central Arava Regional Council was established in 1978. The area under the Council's jurisdiction is 371,000 acres (1.5 million Dunam), or 6% of Israeli land. It is comprised of seven communities. Five agricultural communities (Moshavim): Idan, Hatzeva, Ein-Yahav, Tzofar and Paran. Our regional center Sapir and Zuqim a new Eco-Tourism based community. In addition, there is a new ecological community settlement in the planning stage with the temporary name of Paran B.

Education

Our vision for the Arava in 2020

Our vision for the development of the Arava by 2020, while preserving its unique character, pristine primeval land and desert expanses, is to reach a 10% annual demographic growth. If the present growth rate of 3% continues, in a decade we will be faced with a population of only 3,700 residents where at least 35% of them will be 50 years of age and over.

The Goal

·         Double the population within a decade (the current population of the region is 3,000 residents).

·         Year 2009 is a key year, being the half-century mark for inhabiting of the Arava.

·         Creating a development momentum with the absorption of 80 families per year.

Senior Citizens

Many of the original settlers who came to the region 49 years ago are approaching their seventies. A senior citizens center has to be urgently planned and established.

Medical Center

The aging population of the region requires special treatment for newly arising problems, such as travel to medical centers in Beer-Sheva several times a week, which is not acceptable and we have to find a local solution for various medical treatments. A regional medical center at Sapir has to be established, which will be available for residents 24 hours a day, and will provide emergency medical services.

Research and Development Center

One of the main issues in front of us is attracting the second generation, who are university graduates in relevant fields, back to the Arava.

We believe that establishing a joint complex for research and knowledge in the fields of agriculture, ecological tourism, desert studies, water and the preservation of nature will open the way for new fields, crops and new ideas. The center will be based upon the existing Hatzeva field school and the agricultural and scientific R&D unit (that belongs to the ministry of science). The new complex will promote agricultural research, preservation of the natural primeval landscape of the Arava; accelerate the development of agricultural tourism and nature preservation which are the greatest treasures of the region.

Promotion and upgrading existing centers

1.  Yair Station – The Yair station is an international center for knowledge in agriculture, tourism and preservation of the environment, natural landscape and water in the desert.

2. The Field School will be transferred to an outside investor and will be upgraded in order to serve as a center to host delegations from all over the world to take agricultural courses, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture. There will be classrooms and lecture halls in the Field School, which will additionally serve as a center for the preservation of nature and the environment in the region.

3.  The school for agricultural trainees from Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam and Myanmar has been running for ten years now, with a staff of senior lecturers, made up of residents of the Arava. As of today, all the foreign trainees, from all over the world, who arrive to Israel; have lodging in the center of Israel, in two main locations. We have already received the consent and blessing, of the Agriculture and Foreign departments, to transfer all the trainees' hospitality and teaching from the center of Israel to the Arava. Transfer of all agricultural trainees to the region will accelerate the economic development of the Area.

4.    Agricultural R&D – the agricultural R&D is in need of funds in order to promote a number of fields:

a.  The center for agro-tourism – a field with great potential that has not been tapped at all.

b.  An international center for agricultural exhibitions – the potential is huge.

Tourism

This is the second economic field in the region that has to be developed. The area of the Council includes nature reserves and primeval landscapes, such as the marl gullies (“badlands”) and the Spice Routes. Strategic development planning is making good progress in three fields: accommodations, dining and tourist attractions.

The type of accommodation currently available in the region includes guesthouses (184 units), and a number of hotels are in the planning stage. It’s also necessary to upgrade and renovate the Hatzeva Field School. There are presently no good options available to accommodate large groups in the region, which forces many tourist groups to turn to the Dead Sea region or Eilat, which is our loss.

There are also a number of roadside restaurants along the Arava Highway, at Hatzeva, Tzofar and Ein-Yahav, and strategic planning calls for the development of additional, high quality restaurants. There is also much potential in field tours – hiking and cycling, as well as by camel and by jeep.

The flourishing agriculture of the Arava, which is internationally renowned and has become a model for emulation, together with high level desert tourism, will serve as an additional factor to attract visitors from Israel and all over the world. 

Ornamental Fish in the Arava

This branch of aquaculture began to develop in the Arava about a decade ago, initiated by the agricultural Research and Development Station. During the last five years there has been significant development in the field, with several new farms joining in, and with enlargement of the existing farms. The breeding of ornamental fish serves as a good alternative to vegetable growing, and also makes efficient use of water. The fish are exported to Europe. The relative proximity to the markets and the disease-free well-monitored growing systems gives local growers an advantage over the growers of the Far East. 

Water

The region is not connected to the national water system and is supplied by local drilling.

There are two main aquifers, which provide fresh water from well shafts drilled to an average depth of 130 meters, which are replenished by flooding and by underwater streams.

Thirteen of the fresh-water well shafts, drilled before the peace agreement with Jordan was signed, remained in Jordanian territory after the border was adjusted. According to the peace treaty the water will be used to supply the residents of the region and the well shafts will be maintained by an Israeli company.