Learning Library

Connecting New Dots to Rehabilitate the Western Negev

Rehabilitation of the Western Negev will require unprecedented coordination, cooperation, and collaboration across the Israeli public and private sectors. Shahar Solar (Wexner Israel Fellow 25) saw opportunities to bring together the expertise of officials, architects, planners, environmentalists, academics, the Israel Land Authority, the Ministry of Construction and Housing and his own Planning Administration, the Tekuma (Revival) Administration, and beyond. Leading primarily from a place of informal authority, Shahar has been able to spearhead a process of coordinating several key bodies to collaborate and co-plan – in some cases for the first time.