The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority oppose plans of the Prime Minister’s Office to found 5-7 new communities in the Lachish area in the northern Negev for Gush Katif evacuees who still have no new residence. The two organizations believe that the government should strengthen existing communities in the area, including Shekef, Amatzia and Shomeria.
800 of the 1,000 families from Gush Katif have found housing solutions in existing communities, including Kibbutz Karmia, Zikim, Mivki’im, and Nitzan.
Although the cabinet approved the establishment of Haruv, Givat Hazan, Egoz and Haruvit, the planning authorities have not yet approved plans for the communities. Each community will ultimately have 350-400 housing units. The Prime Minister’s Office says the new communities are also necessary for security reasons, despite the separation fence along the Lachish area’s border with the West Bank.
Environmental organization oppose the establishment of communities in the unique ecological border zone between the Mediterranean and desert climate zones. Protected flora and fauna live in this border zone. SPNI says that the building of communities in the area involves building of utilities infrastructures and roads that will destroy the open spaces. SPNI central district ecologist Dr. Yariv Malikhi says that the building of new communities will result in the introduction of invasive flora and fauna that will harm the area’s wildlife. He said the simple and environmentally friendly solution would be the expansion of existing communities.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 28, 2007
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