If this, indeed would work out well. Although, it's true that the watershortage is a problem. But the whole idea sounds great. To settle the Negev and create new communities. Zionist pionering, I love it!

Would this offer be open for all Israeli citizens? And since the article mentions prospective farmers having to be accepted by a local committee, would ALL Israelis be eligible in practise, not just in theory? Would an Arab-Israeli be just as eligible as a Jewish Israeli? I think not.

Unsurprising but still awful to see YNet reporting on this stupid bickering over getting suburbanites to settle the desert, rather than the very real crime of destroying Bedouin villages there. Maybe this money should go to the Bedouin so they can rebuild.

Israel will once again subsidize illegal settlements. So, what else is new?

The lack of enough rain and desalination plants years behind schedule are forcing Israel to draw more water from Golan Heights, Galilee and W. Bank areas but now they are going dry along with Dead Sea and Jordan river. Syria and Jordan are not blame free either but real problem is population grown is simple too large for water supply, farming and factories will have to cut water use at some point unless a solution is found soon or more rain comes.

Grow more salt water plants! Halophytes like New Zealand Spinach/Warrigal Greens. There's plenty of salt water in the mediterranean and the red sea! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/12/05/salt-loving-plants-could-provide-abundant-food%E2%80%94and-maybe-even-biofuel/