The Society for the Protection of Nature (S.P.N.I.) has announced it will fight a plan to build hothouses in the northern Arava, saying it would cause serious environmental damage to the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture approved "in principle" a request by the Tamar Regional Council to increase the number of agricultural plots in Ein Tamar and Ne'ot HaKikar in the southern Dead Sea area. 

The plots are located in the same area where, 15 years ago, the S.P.N.I. fought a successful battle against placement of high-power transmitters for the Voice of America radio station.