Arabs and Israelis discuss resuscitating Dead Sea
Pastor Dale Morgan
Arabs and Israelis discuss resuscitating Dead Sea*
07 Dec 2006 16:34:28 GMT
Source: Reuters
AMMAN, Dec 7 (Reuters) - A plan to top up the shrinking Dead Sea with
water from the Red Sea will be discussed on Sunday by Jordan, the
Palestinians and Israel.
Officials said on Thursday the tripartite meeting on the viability of
the $2-$4 billion "Two Seas Canal" project will take place on the
Jordanian side of the landlocked Dead Sea.
World Bank officials will also attend to examine how to tender out a
feasibility study. The project aims to reverse a 25 metre (82 ft) fall
in the Dead Sea's level in the past century.
Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority were committed to the
180-km (110-mile) plan despite stalled peace talks between Israelis and
Palestinians, the officials said.
The Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth's surface, has been
shrinking because of increased use of water upstream from the Jordan
River, the Dead Sea's main source.
France, the United States, the Netherlands and Japan have signalled
their willingness to contribute to the cost of the two-year study.
Any link between the seas might include a hydro-electric plant to
capitalise on the drop of about 450 metres from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
The study would also examine the possible environmental impact. The Dead
Sea is too salty for all but a few salt-loving micro-organisms. It is
unclear how the sea might be affected by less salty Red Sea water.