Israeli Earthquake Sets Off Predictions of a Larger One*

by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) The Patzael region in the central Jordan Valley, just 20
kilometers north of Jericho, was touched by a small earthquake on
Saturday night, registering 3.0 on the Richter scale.  A similar quake
occurred in the same area two months ago.

On Sunday morning, researchers at Tel Aviv University presented a new
study on the timeline of earthquakes throughout history.  No precise
future earthquake dates can be extrapolated from the data, of course,
but the researchers say one is on the way - as no major quake has hit
the danger area between the Dead Sea and the Kineret in centuries.

"It's like the first winter rain," said Dr. Shmuel Marko, who took part
in the study. "The longer the dry summer lasts, the closer the first
rain is.  Here, as well: The quiet is worrisome.  The longer we go
without a large quake, the more we can expect one."

On the other hand, experts have said that Israel's earthquakes are in
general less frequent than those in other quake-prone regions such as
California, Japan and Turkey.

Israel is located along the Syria-Africa rift, a friction point between
two subterranean plates and is therefore considered earthquake-prone.  

In 1927, some 250 people were killed in an earthquake that hit Jericho
and central Israel.  In November 1995, a 6.2 quake caused injuries to
several people in Eilat. A minor quake, 5.0 on the Richter scale, hit
Israel in February 2004, shaking buildings in many cities and even
causing damage to the Knesset building.  No one was reported hurt.