Glimpses of Israel - The Land Reclaimed

From the rich agricultural farming valleys in the north, which were once malaria-infested marshland, to the irrigated drip-fed fruit groves and vegetable fields of the arid desert regions in the south, the Land of Israel has been transformed.

Since much of the Land was desolate and barren, a strategy of reclamation was already underway during the British Mandate days. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) was vital in facilitating many of the major projects, at the time. However, when the State of Israel was re-established in 1948, the strategy to reclaim the Land was accelerated and implemented with a greater urgency and success.

Millions of trees have been planted creating forests and parklands. Extensive water and land management projects have helped resource the rapidly growing population, as well as create new farming communities. The creation of large reservoirs and the development of subterranean drainage have turned arid land and non-usable areas into viable alternatives.

Israel today is a world leader in the research and development of alternate farming technics, including drip-irrigation systems, dry-tolerant crops and the utilization of brackish water. From humble beginnings, Israel has indeed blossomed.

"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." (Isaiah 35:1)

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