Precipitation in the eastern mediterranean falls primarily on edge of the region.

western coastal

Explanation:

The Eastern Mediterranean is mostly arid and semi-arid. The precipitation levels are very low in general, with only small areas of this part of the region receiving sufficient amounts of rainfall. The majority of the precipitation is along the western coastal part of the Eastern Mediterranean, mostly the coastal parts of Lebanon, Syria, and in the past few decades Israel as well. The reason for this is that in this part of the region there are mountains, so the warm, wet air masses accumulate and there's sufficient amounts of precipitations. Behind the mountains though it it mostly desert and very dry. Israel naturally doesn't have precipitation in this manner, but by using the technology, this country started to produce artificial conditions for precipitation, increasing the precipitation significantly, turning from desert, to one of the most prosperous agricultural countries in the region.

i think the answer to your question is: settlement of the interior and economic growth. ( ^_^)／