Ed,


Some parts of Israel, the more sparsely populated parts of the Negev, the Judea and the Arava regions, do have a New Mexico/Arizona-like climate.

The Mediterranean coastal area, the Sharon, the northern valleys and the Galillee are quite green.
Israel transported water to these areas and planted millions of pine trees.

Israel is the only country in the whole world, where the number of trees has grown between 1900 and today.
It is still growing, despite the acts of some people, who try to set this land alight...

Where we fly, the climate is a bit more Florida-like... pretty humid.