DEVELOPMENT PECULIARITIES OF PERIPHERAL DESERT SETTLEMENTS - THE CASEOF ISRAEL

Selected statistical time-series covering the 30-year period from 1965 -94 were studied to determine general trends of both economic developm ent and population growth of urban settlements in the Negev desert of Israel. The research indicated that in comparison with urban settlemen ts located in central 'non-desert' districts of the country, periphera l desert localities tend to exhibit wider fluctuations of economic act ivity, unstable population growth, and an attenuation of general urban ization trends that manifest themselves elsewhere across the country. The research led to a set of analytical models designed to explain dev elopment peculiarities of peripheral desert settlements. In addition, several planning strategies were proposed, aimed at enhancing the soci o-economic sustainability of existing settlements in peripheral desert areas and facilitating prospective urban development there. These inc lude: (1) the establishment of development clusters consisting of urba n settlements which share some essential interregional functions such as employment, educational, cultural, and recreational services and fa cilities; (2) the adoption of a system of progressive economic incenti ves to promote private investment in peripheral desert areas; and (3) stricter regulation of land use in the central, non-desert regions of the country. Although the present analysis was restricted to small and medium urban settlements in Israel, the mode of analysis and its prac tical applications can be useful for urban and regional planning elsew here.