Negev in 2005. The $600 million project hopes to continue Israel's past environmental successes in 'making the desert bloom' and attract 500,000 new Jewish residents to the Negev by improving transportation infrastructure, establishing businesses, developing water resources and introducing programs to protect the environment. A planned artificial desert river, swimming pools and golf courses raised concerns among environmentalists. Critics oppose those plans, calling instead for an inclusive plan for the green vitalization of existing population centers, investment in Bedouin villages, clean-up of toxic industries and development of job options for the unemployed. A major Israel Defense Forces training base is being
Desert of the Heart of minor figures that the reader is apt to have little empathy with anyone." One reviewer cautioned potential readers that despite the lack of sensationalism, ""The Desert of the Heart" is not recommended to those who find sexual perversion an uncomfortable subject." "Desert of the Heart" was highly recommended by Gene Damon in "The Ladder", who called it "a symbolic delight." Rule remembered the mail she got from women who read the book. "I got a huge amount of fan mail which I didn't expect. I thought movie stars got fan mail. People were writing things like you are the